Vosne-Romanée Wine Region

The Vosne-Romanée wine region is in France, in the eastern part of the Bourgogne region in the Côte-d'Or department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region. The region comprises two communes, Vosne-Romanée and Flagey-Échezeaux.The wine region is picturesque with exceptional terroir and a long history of winemaking. The Vosne-Romanée wine region is known for its most celebrated wines- made entirely from the Pinot Noir grape variety, also referred to as the “Pearl of Burgundy”. The Vosne-Romanée wine appellation boasts 8 Grand Crus and 15 Premier Crus vineyard sites. 

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Where is the Vosne-Romanée wine region?

Vosne-Romanée is a wine-growing and viticultural area in the heart of Cote de Nuits, in eastern Burgundy just 23km northeast of Beaune and 33 km southwest of Dijon. The region is bordered by Vougeot in the North, Nuits-Saint-Georges in the South, and Saint Bernard in the east. The vineyards are spread throughout 380 acres in the commune of Vosne-Romanée and Flagey-Échezeaux producing just over 800,000 bottles of wine. 

History of Vosne-Romanée wine region

Vosne-Romanée wine region was already considered an excellent area for growing wines in 460AD as Saint Vivant abbey monks settled to grow wines. Later in 890, the monastery of saint Vivant was built and the land eventually became today's Grand Cru of Romanee Saint Vivant. Most of the vineyards belonged to the monastery and major Lords till 1789, but the revolution brought a change of ownership. The famous vineyard of “La Romanee” was acquired by a wealthy family and by 1866 the village appended its name resulting in the modern name of “Vosne-Romanée”.

The wine region was hit hard by the infestation of phylloxera at the end of the 19th century. Despite such turmoil, the region stood as one of the leading appellations in the whole of Burgundy.

The terroir and geography of the Vosne-Romanée wine region

Vineyards to the east of the town center covering 97 hectares are categorized as Village appellation. The soil comprises mainly thin, well-draining clay limestones and pebbles in this area. Vineyards at the hills of Vosne-Romanée, the Premier Crus, are very narrow due to the formation of thick layers of limestone. The soil is a combination of clay and limestones. Most of the grand crus are located in the mid slopes thin layers of earth and shallow limestone soils. These soils have the best drainage qualities because of the higher proportion of limestone. 

The terroir of Vosne-Romanée produces some of the finest grapes in all of Burgundy. The winemakers from the region have succeeded in maintaining the reputation of Vosne-Romanée wines through the centuries by exercising the greatest care in the vinification process. The wines from the Vosne-Romanée are amongst the longest-lived wines from Burgundy.

Popular grape varieties from the Vosne-Romanée wine region

Vosne-Romanée wine appellation in Burgundy produces mostly red wines. The terroir and the climate of the Meursault wine region made the cultivation of the red grape varietals more favorable than the white. 

The major grape variety used in the Vosne-Romanée wine region is Pinot Noir. The region has strict regulations that only up to 15% of white grape varieties such as Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc can be added to the red wine blend. The red wines exclusively made from Pinot Noir are powerful, tannic, and extremely aromatic. 

Food to pair with Vosne-Romanée wine 

Margret de Canard

Margret de Canard is a classic dish of seared duck breast that dates back to the 1950s. The dish was invented by French chef André Daguin by preparing a magret like a steak medium-rare. Usually, the meat is sliced thinly and cooked until the inside is slightly pink. The duck breast is usually from the Moular duck, a cross between the white Pelkin and the Muscovy duck. Moulard breed is raised for foie gras, so its breast meat has a deeper, rich, beefier flavor than that of other duck breeds. Magret de canard is famous throughout France and can be easily found in restaurants.

Foie Gras

Foie gras simply means “fatty liver” in French, which was discovered by ancient Egyptians. Foie gras made its way to become a delicacy for kings and noblemen when it reached Gaul. It has since become part of french gastronomy and represents the culinary finesse, culture, and sophistication. 

The foie gras can be served whole, as pâté, or as a mousse. It is sometimes served in terrines, pan seared, or as an appetizer or an entrée. The crisp Meursault wines with a mineral flavor profile complement the velvety foie gras. Meursault chardonnay accentuates the buttery texture of foie gras. 

A duck or goose liver is fattened through a process called gavage resulting in a silky smooth texture and rich taste. The goose liver is considered more refined with a milder taste, whereas duck liver tends to have a gamier flavor with slightly less fattiness. The livers are graded for quality. Grade “A” refers to the smoothest texture with consistent and rich flavors. Grade “B” has the same taste characteristics with small visual defects. The grade “B” is mostly used for mousses and terrines where those defects can be hidden. 

Burger

Folklore suggests that the burger, a classic American food, has its origin in the German port of Hamburg and is an evolved form of German beefsteak. A burger is a seared beef patty between lightly toasted buns along with onion slices, mustard, and ketchup. Other condiments include salad, lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese. A burger is a simple and convenient meal that is enjoyed across the world.

Places to visit in the Vosne-Romanée wine region

Eglise Saint Martin

St. Martin church is a roman catholic church built in a gothic architectural style. The church was constructed between 1234 and 1365 by the devotees of the cult of Martin. The church was built using ferruginous sandstone with traditional romanesque art. You can view amazing murals from the 12th to the 17th century. This spectacular church is within walking distance from the main railway station and place de la Republique. You can also view interesting boards showing then and now pictures of the church. The church boasts an organ dating back to 1773 which was brought from Klausen Abbey.

Le Monument Aux Morts À Vosne-romanée

Le Monument Aux Morts À Vosne-romanée is a monument built in memory of 37 victims of the world war. The monument was inaugurated on September 11, 1921. This spectacular monument is built in Burgundy limestone. The monument was built by Barrias and Jules couton who was awarded the Prix de Rome for Sculpture in 1903.

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Frequently asked questions about Vosne-Romanée