Beaune

The wines

The Beaune appellation covers the slope north and south of the town, with 42 premier cru climats between 220 and 300 metres. Thin brown soils on hard limestone lie at the top, deeper marls at mid-slope, and limestone mixed with clay at the foot. Most wine is red Pinot Noir, bright with black and red fruit, turning to truffle and leather. Reds from north of the town tend to be more powerful. Chardonnay whites are rarer, with almond and white flowers.

History

Beaune began as a small Roman fort and grew under the Dukes of Burgundy, whose red wine was prized from the early Middle Ages. In 1443 Nicolas Rolin, chancellor to the Duke of Burgundy, and his wife Guigone de Salins founded the Hôtel-Dieu, a hospital for the poor. Its great ward, the Grande Salle des Pôvres, opened in 1452 and keeps its original size: 50 metres long and 16 metres high.

After the death of Charles the Bold in 1477, King Louis XI built a castle here, and massive bastions were added in the 16th and 17th centuries. Today the bastions and the vaulted cellars under the town hold millions of bottles belonging to the négociant houses. The Hospices estate, built up from gifts and legacies, covers about 60 hectares. Its wines have been sold at a charity auction since 1859, now held every third Sunday of November.