Maison Albert Bichot is one of Burgundy’s largest and most important negociants. It was founded by Bernard Bichot in 1831 as a wine brokerage and by the early 20th century the maison was exporting throughout Europe and to the U.S. In 1912 it moved its headquarters to Beaune. Today the estate is run by Alberic Bichot, the sixth generation of the founding family. In 2004 Albert Bichot was named “Red Winemaker of the Year” by the International Wine Challenge and in 2011 the maison won the “White Winemaker of the Year” honor from the same organization. Albert Bichot owns four estates, one each in Chablis, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Pommard and Mercurey. It is also produces wine from Cote de Beaune, Cote Chalonnnaise, Beaujolais, Maconnais and regional appellations. Altogether the maison owns a total of more than 250 acres of vineyards.
Burgundy in eastern France is, if not the most famous and storied wine region in the world, certainly one of the top two or three. Its winemaking history dates from the Roman era, and its relatively small size and reputation for outstanding wines means that the best wines of Burgundy are generally among the world’s most prized – and costly – wines. At about 110,000 vineyards acres, Burgundy is only 40% as big as Bordeaux, and its system of dividing up vineyards into small, family-owned parcels makes understanding the wines of Burgundy a life-long pursuit for Burgundy enthusiasts. The three main grapes of Burgundy are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Gamay. Burgundy is a long, narrow, north-south running region consisting of five main areas. They are Chablis in the north, Côte D’Or, Côte Chalonnaise, Mâconnais and Beaujolais, which is just above the Rhone Valley. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are grown throughout most of Burgundy but Gamay is grown primarily in Beaujolais. The appellation system and rules about labeling can be confusing and the system classifies regions, villages and even individual vineyards. Grand Cru is the most prestigious appellation category, followed by Premier Cru and many village and regional appellations.
This white variety originated in Burgundy, but is now grown around the world. Its flexibility to thrive in many regions translates to wide flavor profile in the market. Chardonnay is commonly used in making Champagne and sparkling wines.