How to Read a French Wine Label: Burgundy

It is from Burgundy (decoded by the phrase in the top right corner “Vin de Bourgogne,” meaning “Wine of Burgundy” in French). In Burgundy there are two main wines to know: Red Burgundy (Pinot Noir) and White Burgundy (Chardonnay). These two wines comprise the majority of the region’s wine, with Chablis, Gamay and some sparkling wines rounding out the rest of Burgundy’s wine offerings. This label represents a white wine from Burgundy, which we figure out from bottle and label clues. First, the bottle will have the sloped shoulder style that is typically found in white wines (and Pinot Noir) where there is no need for a sediment lip. You'll also be able to see that it is a white wine through the green glass, instead of red wine. Next, it's critical to take some time to get to know key appellations in the dominate wine regions of France. These appellations will tip you off on which grapes are likely in the bottle of wine. So for this particular label, we know that the region where the wine’s grapes were grown is Burgundy (via the top left corner of the label, designated "Vin de Bourgogne"). Next, the specific appellation in Burgundy is Macon-Villages (known for stellar white Burgundy wines, aka Chardonnay). The precise estate where the grapes are from is listed as "Domaine Champ de Brulee" (literally translated to “Burnt Field” – referring to the specific vineyard’s optimal sun exposure). The wine's producer is Vincent (an extension of the Chateau Fuisse Estate) and the bottling information is found at the bottom of the label. All in all, we know that this is a Chardonnay from Burgundy produced by JJ Vincent in 2003 with an alcohol content of 12.5%. Other terms that you may encounter on French wine labels include: "Blanc" - meaning "white"; "Cru" - typically meaning "vineyard"; "Grand Cru" - meaning "Great growth" designating a vineyard of exceptional reputation and quality; "Cuvee" - meaning "blend" of grapes or wines; "Domaine" - meaning "estate"; "Rouge" - meaning "red"