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Two new AOC for Burgundy
The Institut National des Appellations d’Origine (INAO) has formally approved two new AOCs in Burgundy: Vézelay as a Village and Bourgogne Côte d’Or as a new regional appellation.
The INAO initially approved the new AOCs in June this year but they were only formally recognised in the Official Journal published on 9 November.
The promotion to a Village appellation marks Vézelay’s continued return to its former glory.
The region in the very north of Burgundy – it is in the Yonne department, west of Dijon and south of Auxerre – is famous for its 11th century abbey and used to be a thriving wine area as well.
Devastated by phylloxera in the 1870s and ‘80s, the comeback was gradual and it was not until 100 years later, in 1985, that Vézelay was granted the generic ‘Bourgogne’ appellation.
In 1998 it was allowed to label itself as Bourgogne Vézelay Régionale and has now been promoted once more.
Further south, meanwhile the famous Côte d’Or between Dijon and Beaune has likewise been recognised with a regional appellation, joining the likes of Côte Chalonnaise, Passe-tout-grains, Tonnerre, Côteaux Bourguignons, Crémant de Bourgogne and the Hautes Côtes de Beaune and Nuits.
Typo above? Côte d’Or is not only between Dijon and Beaune but stretches south to ~Chagny 😉