Chablis wines are typically light green in color and high in acid. Growing conditions in Chablis are such that Chardonnay is the only grape variety grown and sprinkler systems are permitted to protect against frequent heavy frosts. Both Grand Crus and Premier Crus exist in Chablis.
Below the Côte d'Or and separated by the river Dheune, is the Côte Châllonnaise. This area is much the same in every respect to the Côte d'Or although its wines generally mature slightly earlier. Further south is Mâconnais which is more typical of the southern French regions. Co-operative cellars and village appellations produce most of the wine which is typically white - either from Chardonnay or Pinot Noir grapes, although Pinot is used to make some reds also. You may be familiar with Pouilly-Fuissé, a very rich wine of Mâconnais which is popular in the USA.
Finally, the most fun area of Burgundy is at its southern tip - Beaujolais. Here only Gamay is grown and red wine is made to be drunk young. Beaujolais Nouveau is the most famous wine from here, a wine that is released on the third Thursday in November every year. This wine is fermented using Carbonic Maceration - grapes are placed in a container under a blanket of CO2 and they literally ferment from the inside out producing a soft, low tannin, fruity wine. After fermentation and bottling this wine is shipped all over the world - often on Concord - so that on the third Thursday in November people all over the world are drinking Beaujolais Nouveau! Other Beaujolais wines are produced and not necessarily with the same fermentation process. This region produces more wine than any other Burgundy region; it has 10 'Cru' villages, other village and a regional AOC.
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