The Côte Chalonnaise is a wine-growing region in the department of Saône-et-Loire in Burgundy, eastern France. It is composed of five key communes, separated from each other by only a few kilometres. From North to South, they are: Bouzeron, Rully, Mercurey, Givry and Montagny. It takes its name from the commune of Chalon-sur-Saône.
The main Grape varieties of the Côte Chalonnaise are Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Gamay and various other red and white mutations of the Pinot family are planted in smaller quantities.
The Chalonnaise Lies between the Côte de Beaune to the north and the Mâconnais, just to the south. There is a Clear division between these two areas, clearly delineated by the border between the departments of Côte d'Or and Saône-et-Loire.
Pinot noir is an important red grape variety in Burgundy and Champagne, and its reputation is well known! Great wines such as the Domaine de la Romanée Conti elaborate their wines from this famous grape variety, and make it a great variety. When properly vinified, pinot noit produces red wines of great finesse, with a wide range of aromas depending on its advancement (fruit, undergrowth, leather). it is also the only red grape variety authorized in Alsace. Pinot Noir is not easily cultivated beyond our borders, although it has enjoyed some success in Oregon, the United States, Australia and New Zealand.
white wines from the region of Côte Chalonnaise go well with generally quite well with dishes of pasta, rich fish (salmon, tuna etc) or shellfish such as recipes of pistou soup complete, tunisian sandwich or shrimp with oyster sauce.
