Burgundy winemaking unions merge

The Union des Maisons de Vins de Beaujolais et du Mâconnais and the Union des Maisons de Vins de Bourgogne have merged to create a larger more cohesive body.

The new Union des Maisons de Vins de Grande Bourgogne (UMVGB) was created at a general meeting on 13 December and was described as a “completely natural step”.

As explained in a statement, the fusion of these two winemaking bodies brings together two regions that have been growing closer since the 1990s as producers from the Côte d’Or have increasingly invested in Beaujolais in particular.

Furthermore, the merger was also apparently driven by the growth in production of ‘Bourgogne’ appellation production – which now accounts for 100,000 hectolitres or 15% of Beaujolais production – as well as the growing success of Crémant de Bourgogne.

Frédéric Drouhin, the new president of the UMVGB, said: “This merger demonstrates the optimism of our industry players and their faith in the expanded Bourgogne-Beaujolais region. The wider offer from these two regions, which together produce more than 300 million bottles, enables us to offer a very wide range of appellations, wine styles, and price points to consumers.”

In addition to consulting and monitoring its 70 members, the UMVGB will play an “active” role in handling major regional, national and international projects.