The Winery Jean Louis Drout of Nuits-Saint-Georges of Côte de Nuits

Discovering the wine region of Nuits-Saint-Georges

Nuits-Saint-Georges is a town in eastern Burgundy which gives its name to the Côte de Nuits, the Northern half of the Côte d'Or wine district. It is known for relatively Powerful, Complex red wines from the Pinot Noir grape variety. This represents 97 percent of production, with a small amount of white wine made from Chardonnay. In terms of surface area, with 320 hectares (790 acres) of Village and premier cru Vineyards, Nuits-Saint-Georges is the second largest of the 26 commune titles in the Côte d'Or, fractionally smaller than Beaune.

There are also around 315 hectares (778 acres) of vineyards within its boundaries which produce regional wines. In addition to covering land immediately north and South of the town, the appellation also includes the vineyards of its neighbor, Premeaux Prissey, where one-quarter of the premier cru climats are located. There are 41 premier cru climats belonging to the appellation; wines made from their grapes, and conforming to the strictest of the Nuits-Saint-Georges appellation rules, may claim the title Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru. While the town does not boast any grand cru sites, its many premier cru vineyards are rated among the finest in the district.

Although Dijon, to the north, is Burgundy's administrative Center, and Beaune, to the south, is the wine capital, Nuits-Saint-Georges holds its own as an important viticultural location. Many long-established wine merchants and negociants have made their businesses and homes here. The town has had its own Nuits-Saint-Georges appellation since September 1936, but has been the source of respected red wines for the best Part of a millennium. The Saint-Georges vineyard, in particular, just south of the town, has been known as a source of excellent wines by locals and royalty alike for many hundreds of years.