New grand cru vineyards in Burgundy?

Will the Côte d’Or in Burgundy have a few more Grand Cru vineyards in a few years? Some people hope so while others are less enthusiastic. Applications from three premier cru vineyards in Pommard have been submitted to the INAO, the Institut National de l’ Origine et de la Qualité. They are Pommard Les Rugiens, les Epenots and le Clos des Epeneaux .

Also Nuits -Saint-Georges is trying its luck. Just as Pommard, Nuits-Saint-Georges has no grand cru but several highly regarded premier crus. And one of them, Les Saint- Georges, the vineyard that has given its name to the town, has now applied for the highest level.

But the road to grand cru status is long. INAO will now carefully study and analyse these vineyards to determine if they deserve grand cru status. “Terroir” is important, of course. Soil, location, climate but the economical (the prices of wines from these vineyards compared to other premier crus) and the historical aspect will also play a big part in the decision.

Currently there are 32 grand cru vineyards in the Côte d’Or. And the lucky few who own land here is apparently not too keen on the idea that the exclusive group could become bigger.

The last vineyards to be granted Grand Cru status was Clos des Lambrays in Morey -Saint-Denis in 1981 (more on Clos des Lambrays here) and Grande Rue in Vosne- Romanée 1991. Read more on Vitisphere.

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