Bourgogne Côtes du Couchois officially extended to white wines
A decree signed on 29 October 2026 recognizes Chardonnay whites under the Bourgogne Côtes du Couchois blanc denomination, with 2026 designated as the first vintage.
Recognition for Chardonnay whites
A decree signed on 29 October 2026 officially recognized white wines under the Bourgogne Côtes du Couchois blanc denomination. Chardonnay grown in the Couchois can therefore be released under the geographical denomination, which had covered red wines since 2000.1
The recognition follows a process launched in 2017. On 6 April 2023, local producers voted unanimously to support recognition of the white wines; the initiative, pursued with the Syndicat des Bourgognes, was completed in 2026.1
The Couchois vineyard
The Côtes du Couchois lie south of the Maranges, between the Côte de Beaune and the Côte Chalonnaise. The area contains about 20 family-run estates, in a landscape of vineyards, meadows, woodland and valleys. Although its formal recognition previously concerned red wine, white-grape cultivation has a long history locally.1
The vineyard’s geology includes green, yellow, pink, purple and dark red clays dating from the Triassic period. Sites range from 250 to 400 metres above sea level; the source associates these soils and elevations with the freshness, elegance and character of the area’s Chardonnay wines.1
First vintage in 2026
The 2026 harvest is identified as the first vintage for Bourgogne Côtes du Couchois blanc following the decree, opening the denomination to officially recognized Chardonnay white wines from the area.1
Sources
Written by the Dionysus editors from the sources above.
