The Corton hill is Burgundy’s biggest grand cru vineyard. On the slopes of the hill just north of Beaune pinot noir and chardonnay are grown side by side. On top of the hill there is 66 hectares of forest. Rumours have it that this forest is about to change owners. The wine producers are upset, to say the least. It doesn’t help that the buyer is said to be prepared to pay 1.5 million euros for the forest instead of the market price of 300,000 euros. The forest is not on any appellation land. What will the new owner do with it? The winegrowers are imagining the worst. What if he deforests and builds a hotel!?
Deforest will affect the climate around the hill, says the winegrowers. Not to mention the aesthetic aspects. Officials say that deforesting is not allowed in the area. The growers are not so certain. To be continued. Read more bourgogneaujourdhui.com
