Chablis is famous as a white wine appellation around the world. It has great popularity in the markets everywhere, including India. How has the market for Chablis been growing (based on your expert view) in the last few years, and how has the COVID 19 pandemic affected it? What measures are being taken by the producers in the region?
Chablis remains unique in the world as you have said. Our growers have consistently worked in our vineyards during the COVID lockdown period too. Nature can’t wait, you know!
But the strict health and sanitary protocols in place means rigorous processes must be followed with workers in the vineyard often working alone or in small numbers, sometimes moving alone every few rows in the vineyards. Social distancing and masks are compulsory everywhere – in our cellars as well.
The market for Chablis has been booming this year especially in the off-trade around the world where the consumers are seeking to buy valuable and unique white wines with the stamp of the Chablis appellations. These positive trends (sometimes up to +30%) are the same in all the international markets. The off-trade has been strong for our wines.
Could you share your thoughts on the differences in price, style, and quality in the white wines of Burgundy? For example, Chablis, the Cote d’Or, the Maconnais (after the official elevation of Pouilly Fuisse)? I know this is a complex question, but I would like the consumer to understand the differences each region offers since technically speaking, it is the same grape, Chardonnay, grown within the larger region of Bourgogne.
Although the varietal Chardonnay is the same all over Bourgogne, there are probably two dominant categories of premium white wines, price wise and taste wise, which reference both the complexity of the terroir and the volume of production.
All over the world, both Chablis and the Macon areas are considered very valuable white Burgundies (Chardonnay) based on the larger volume they produce. In general, these two regions may represent unique characteristics, easy tasting and easy matching with any kind of food: seafood, vegetarian food including your lovely Indian specialties.
The fruit and the minerality in the wines make the difference when it comes to the best food pairing options.
The second category refers to the prestigious and more complex whites, basically from Côte d’Or. A different terroir, more limestone and red marl with fairly deep roots will explain the richness of those famous Crus such as Montrachet, Corton or Meursault. More roundness, ripe fruit including notes of almonds or hazelnuts make these white wines unique in the world. Here, it requires more delicate pairing with more fatty fish from the ocean, and creamy sauce, white meat, and all the strongest cheeses.
But we also need to keep in mind that even in Macon and Chablis, there can also be some exceptional terroir, giving greater complexity, along the lines of the Côte d’Or: especially The Grand Cru wines of Chablis and the newest Premier Cru Pouilly Fuisse, as from the vintage 2020.
People often comment that they love the white wines of Burgundy, but many find the prices very high. Any tips and ideas on how best to start buying, what to look for, for a start?
As mentioned before, the best value can be in the Chablis Villages and the Macon-Villages, unique characters of the Burgundy Chardonnay.
This is a first start to open the door to the white wines of Burgundy.
Then before coming to the famous and complex crus of Côte d’Or, we may also focus the mid-range category from Macon, Côte Chalonnaise and some Cote de Beaune whites with another excellent value: especially Saint Veran, Viré Clessé, Montagny, Mercurey, Santenay or Savigny les Beaune.
Finally, Burgundy is a beautiful region to visit from a tourism perspective: not too far from Paris, and with fabulous food as well. Any tips for travellers who want to visit Burgundy? (When, where they should go, food, they must try?)
Our wine lovers are always welcome!
I would personally recommend both the spring season when the vegetation becomes green again, with new shoots and buds growing on the vines, or the fall right after the harvest, with lovely golden colours in our vineyards. It will always be our pleasure to recommend to your friends and fellow wine lovers places they can stay between Beaune and Dijon, what to see in the surroundings of Chablis.
Besides the wines and the local food, Burgundy’s attraction is also its natural landscape and the unique historical patrimony with the Dukes of Burgundy and the Cistercian monks who created the “Climats de Bourgogne” over 900 years ago – now recognized as a World Heritage site by UNESCO !
For more information on Chablis, visit: https://www.chablis-wines.com
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