Mercurey
The largest vineyard of the Côte Chalonnaise, known above all for its reds.
- Wine village
- 35 min from Beaune
- Red and white wines
- 32 premiers crus
€360for a half-day wine tour plus one hour, from Beaune, up to 4 guests
At a glance
- Appellations
- Mercurey
- Grapes
- Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Getting there
Private driver from Beaune: 35 min by road (27 km), €105 one way for the whole car.
Coming by train or plane? Transfers from stations and airports →
About Mercurey
Mercurey stretches along a valley west of Chalon-sur-Saône, about 35 minutes from Beaune. It is the biggest vineyard of the Côte Chalonnaise and makes mostly red wine from Pinot Noir. Above the village, the hamlet of Touches and the ruins of Montaigu castle look out over the vines.
The wines
Mercurey makes red and white wines on two communes, Mercurey and Saint-Martin-sous-Montaigu, with 32 premiers crus. Most of the production is red Pinot Noir, with a smaller share of Chardonnay. The soils mix marls and marly limestones of Oxfordian age, white limey soils and red clays. The reds are deeper in colour and fuller than many of their neighbours, with notes of cherry and spice. The whites are fresh, with apple and mineral tones.
History
Mercurey stood on an important Roman road, and Roman tiles and pottery have been found here. Around 950 the Count of Chalon built the castle of Montaigu on a 332-metre hill for the Duke of Burgundy, to guard against raids from the west and watch the Roman road from Lyon to Paris by way of Chalon and Autun. The castle became the seat of a ducal castellany, the local district of the Dukes of Burgundy.
In 1591, during the Wars of Religion, troops of the Catholic League took the castle, and Henri IV later had it dismantled. From 1803 its ruins served as a stone quarry until 1823. Mercurey wine was already prized in the 14th century: in 1371 the Duke of Burgundy bought a large quantity of it at Montaigu. The appellation dates from 1936, and in 1971 Mercurey merged with neighbouring Bourgneuf-Val-d'Or.
Well-known premiers crusClos des Myglands · Le Clos du Roy · Clos Marcilly · Les Velley · Le Clos l'Évêque · Les Champs Martin
What to see
Mercurey themed trail
A 7.4 km loop of about two hours with around ten information panels. It passes the Sainte-Vierge statue and its viewing table, the church at Touches and the Montaigu ruins.
Touches
This hamlet above Mercurey keeps a Romanesque church with wide views over the vineyards. The ruins of Montaigu castle stand nearby, on private land that is closed to visitors.
Château de Germolles
At Mellecey, between Mercurey and Givry, this 14th-century château is one of the best-preserved residences of the Dukes of Burgundy. The house is shown on guided tours, and the park can be visited on your own.
Tips for your visit
Mercurey sits between Rully and Givry, so it fits easily into a Côte Chalonnaise loop. Allow two hours if you want to walk the themed trail, then taste in the village.
Around here
What to combine with Mercurey on the same day, nearest first.
Guides about Mercurey
Questions
Mercurey is about 35 min from Beaune by road (27 km). With a private driver, the trip from Beaune starts at €105 for the whole car, up to 4 guests.
Did you know? Mercurey owes its name to a temple of the god Mercury, raised here in Roman times. A carving of Sucellus, a Gaulish god holding a mallet, is still set into a house front.
Sources
Mercurey with a private driver
Half-day wine tour plus one hour from Beaune: €360 for the car, up to 4 guests