TWO APPELLATIONS AT THE TOP

The appellations Burgundy Hautes-Côtes de Beaune and Burgundy Hautes-Côtes de Nuits belong to the family of the Grands Vins de Bourgogne. Step off the beaten path and walk upwards to discover the wealth of this vineyard that overlooks the Côte de Beaune and the Côte de Nuits from the west.
Zoom in on the Hautes-Côtes: a real natural setting in the heart of a stream of valleys and hills.

The story of an accent

The vineyards of the Hautes-Côtes are marked by a remarkable history: the work of men and women connected to their terroir and devoted to the development, success and recognition of their appellation. This vineyard has been able to lead a real conquest over the years.

A short recap of the history in a few dates

– 761: first recorded donation of vines in Meuilley

– 1180: Meloisey wine served at the coronation of Philippe Auguste

– 1927: after the chaos of Phylloxera, the vine growers replant vines in the Hautes-Côtes and display at the General Agricultural competition of Paris

– 1958: the unions of Hautes-Côtes de Beaune and Hautes-Côtes de Nuits merge and request recognition as AOC (Protected Appellation of Origin)

– 1961: INAO recognizes the appellations “Burgundy Hautes-Côtes de Beaune” and “Burgundy Hautes-Côtes de Nuits”, a real achievement for all winegrowers

– 2003: the “Prix d’Excellence” contest, which has been rewarding the best wines of the appellation for 60 years, becomes an official competition

– 2011: the Hautes-Côtes celebrate their 50th anniversary

The wealth of the terroir

The vineyards of the Hautes-Côtes stretch in length over 1,480 hectares spread over 40 communes, half in the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits and in the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune.

They draw their identity from a terroir at a high altitude, between 320 and 450 meters. The vines, planted on the best exposed slopes, flourish on clay-limestone soils. All the hills of the appellation area are made up of hard limestone and clays from the top to the base, with chalky limestone on the flanks and pearl slab at the end of the slope.

In terms of the climate, the altitude fosters quite cool temperatures during the year. The valleys allow the air to circulate ideally and the most stony ground retains the heat of the sunny days to redistribute it throughout the night. This heat influence thus stimulates a better expression of the aromas.

The practices and know-how respecting the terroir are also part of the typicality of the Hautes-Côtes vineyard. Here, high vines, low vines and terraced vineyards rub shoulders. The different behaviour methods of the vineyard identify the diversity and authenticity of the Hautes-Côtes.

The vine rows are also usually covered with grass, providing an alternative to chemical weed control. The vine growers and winemakers of the appellation practice a sustainable viticulture, in total coherence with their landscape environment, located in a Natura 2000 zone and identified in the Burgundy Vineyard Climate area.

Hautes-Côtes in numbers

1 vineyard of 1,480 hectares
2 AOC: Burgundy Hautes-Côtes de Beaune & Burgundy Hautes-Côtes de Nuits
40 villages over the appellation area
352 producers
3 colours: white, red and rosé
63,000 hl produced per year on average