D3: Burgundy: Background: Burgundy Overview with Olivier Normand
Olivier Normand is a Burgundy courtier who acts as the export department for many small growers and also discovers new producers who aren't yet known. There are more than 4000 growers in Burgundy, many of whom sell grapes in bulk to negociants or co-operatives, and there are around 2000 producers of wine. The UK is the biggest market for Burgundy followed by the US and Japan.
To help understand Burgundy think of a pyramid with 4 levels. At the base you have the generic appellation with big volumes. The label will usually state Bourgogne and the grape variety. The second tier are the village appellations with wines produced in villages throughout the region. Towards the top are the Premier Cru vineyards, often located on hills in better locations. At the very top of the pyramid is Grand Cru with very few producers and tiny plots of land - the crème de la crème of Burgundy. In all there are more than 160 appellations with unique micro climates and different soil types.
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D3: Burgundy: Background: Burgundy Overview with Olivier Normand
