BIVB tastings to highlight climats

The annual Burgundy en-primeur tastings by The Bureau Interprofessionnel des Vins de Bourgogne (BIVB) will enhance the “Terroirs & Signatures de Bourgogne” theme with the London debut of “Climats & lieu-dits de Bourgogne”.

Funded by proceeds from the Hospices de Beaune Auction in November 2010, the BIVB tastings will highlight the application of the Climats of Burgundy to UNESCO status as a Cultural Heritage site of outstanding universal value.

Under the official UNESCO definition, Cultural Heritage sites are: “works of man or the combined works of nature and man, and areas including archaeological sites which are of outstanding universal value from the historical, aesthetic, ethnological or anthropological point of view”.

The BIVB defines “Climats” and ‘lieux-dits” as “the very expression of the construction of the Burgundy vineyard and its appellations. They are the basis of its history, its landscapes, its economy and its expertise.”

Hugh Johnson wrote that “Burgundy’s business is selling a legend. Its plants in its vineyards, of course, but almost as important is the perpetual theatre of medieval buildings and rituals.”

The term climat has been used from the 7th century, and was officially regulated by the INAO in 1935 for the entire region, regardless of hierarchy. There are more than 1,200 climats across all appellation levels, each given a name from diverse origins according to historical, geographical and man-made conditions.

In London on 20 January, 92 producers from domaines, co-operatives and negotiant houses will present over 500 wines.

Classes and tastings will be presented under themes of “Portraits of Burgundy” and “Climats and Lieux-dits of Burgundy”. Educational seminars by Jean-Pierre Renard from the Burgundy Wine School, and information sessions with producer Anne Parent will be offered to journalists and trade professionals.

The tasting will be supplemented by an exhibition with explanatory texts, that unlike the photographs exhibited at famous landmarks in the Côte d’Or such as the Château du Clos de Vougeot and the Hotel Dieu in Beaune over the past six months, will be more pedagogic than artistic.

Quoting Hugh Johnson again: “Initiates can recognize the soil of each vineyard plot or ‘climat’ (the word means climate too)”.

In April 2011 a “Marche des Climats” procession will walk from Chambolle Musigny to the Château du Clos de Vougeot to sign a Territorial Charter to formalize a united regional commitment to the UNESCO bid.

The BIVB international "Climat" tour will finish in June 2011 at Vinexpo in Bordeaux with presentation and tastings. A final submission will be made to the French government at the end of 2011.

It will be interesting to see if an application for a wine region will be supported following the success of the Gastronomy of France World Heritage listing in 2010, and if so, whether Champagne or Burgundy will be chosen.

Following Champagne’s unsuccessful attempt in 2009, the neighbouring regions are now both applying under the same Cultural Heritage category, in which France can only select one candidate.

If selected to represent France, the final international decision will be announced by UNESCO mid 2013.

Amanda Regan, 06.01.2011

BIVB international tastings of Burgundy in 2011:

London          20 January

Stockholm     16 February

New York       1 March

Chicago         17 March

Toronto          22 March

Montréal        24 March

Tokyo             23 May

See below for a list of January’s London-based events, including Burgundy 2009 tastings:

Monday 10 January
Jeroboams Series of tastings in Central London
Goedhuis & Co Burgundy 2009
Justerini & Brooks Burgundy 2009, 1 Great George Street

Tuesday January 11    
Bibendum Outstanding 2009 Vintage, 60 wines, Royal Institute of British Architects
Montrachet Fine Wine Merchants
Charles Taylor Wines Grand Burgundy Tasting
Union des Grands Crus de Chablis, Institute of Directors
Maison Champy, Travellers Club
BB&R, 1 Great George Street SW1P
Pol Roger Biodynamic Breakfast
New Zealand Wine Growers Annual Tasting, Nursery Pavilion Lord’s

Wednesday 12 January
Flint Wines 2009 Burgundy Tasting
Maison Louis Latour & Simonnet-Febvre 2009 Burgundy Tasting
Bouchard Pére & Fils/William Fevre Annual Tasting, Chandos House

Thursday 13 January
Corney & Barrow “Extensive Burgundian Portfolio”, The Tower of London
Lay & Wheeler 2009 Burgundy Tasting, Glazier’s Hall

Monday 17 January
Louis Jadot En Primeur Tasting, Bafta, Picadilly

Tuesday 18 January
Liberty Wines Annual Portfolio Tasting

Wednesday 19 January
Domaine Chanson 2009 En Primeur (Mentzendorff)
Australian A+ Annual Tasting, Saatchi Gallery

Thursday 20 January
BIVB Terroirs & Signatures de Bourgogne, Old Billingsgate, 16 Lower Thames St, Roadside Entrance
Oregon & Washington Tasting, 1 Great George Street

Tuesday 25 January
Louis Latour Agencies Annual Portfolio Tasting
MMD 25th Anniversary Portfolio Tasting, The Savoy
Mentzendorff, Annual Portfolio Tasting, Somerset House