Volnay

Volnay takes its name from the village of Volnay, as the name suggests, and holds an Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) designation. The 220 hectares of vineyards are planted on limestone soils and face the rising sun; they produce 9,700 hectoliters per year. The climate is temperate oceanic with a continental influence. It is classified among the communal appellations of the Côte de Beaune wine region. The plots are almost exclusively planted with Pinot Noir, a grape variety that is highly susceptible to downy mildew. This results in wines that are deep in color, rich, and moderately tannic. Volnay tends to be perceived as a delicate wine compared to Pommard—smooth and subtle: the finest red wine of the Côte de Beaune. This wine is aged for 12 to 24 months. The result is a wine with a fairly bright red color that darkens over time. It can generally be cellared for 3 to 8 years. On the nose, there are light, fruity, and floral notes, including the scent of violets—a classic aroma of Burgundy wines. Volnay lives up to its promise with a light, fruity palate and a smooth mouthfeel. Although Volnay is a small geographical area, the appellation is divided into 30 climats, Premiers Crus, and Village appellations. As a bit of history, in 312, the first vines in the Côte d’Or were planted after having been banned to prevent competition with Italian wines. The vines suffered greatly in 1910 due to downy mildew.