Corton-Charlemagne
Encyclopedia
Corton-Charlemagne is an Appellation d'origine contrôlée
(AOC) and Grand Cru vineyard
for white wine in Côte de Beaune
subregion of Burgundy
. It is located in the communes of Aloxe-Corton
, Pernand-Vergelesses
and Ladoix-Serrigny
; and Chardonnay
is the only allowed grape variety. Around 300,000 bottles of white wine are produced each year in the appellation
. The AOC was created in 1937.
The vines are located on the higher ground of a hilltop that stretches between the Burgundian villages of Ladoix-Serrigny and Pernand-Vergelesses. The slopes planted with the most valuable vineyards are south-east facing on the hilltop, and the land gradually slopes down towards the major French highway Route 74. The red wine appellation of Corton covers the lower part of the hill, and the areas for Corton and Corton-Charlemagne are partially overlapping. Furthermore there is a third Grand Cru appellation on the Corton hill, Charlemagne
, for white wine. Charlemagne is only 0.28 hectares in size, so production is limited.
Bonneau du Martray
is the largest single owner of vines within the Corton-Charlemagne vineyard with 9.5 hectares.
, supposedly because his wife preferred white wines as they did not stain his beard.
Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Appellation d’origine contrôlée , which translates as "controlled designation of origin", is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products, all under the auspices of the government bureau Institut National...
(AOC) and Grand Cru vineyard
Vineyard
A vineyard is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice...
for white wine in Côte de Beaune
Côte de Beaune
The Côte de Beaune area is the southern part of the Côte d'Or, the limestone ridge that is home to the great names of Burgundy wine. The Côte de Beaune starts between Nuits-Saint-Georges and Beaune, and extends southwards for about 25 km to the River Dheune...
subregion of Burgundy
Burgundy wine
Burgundy wine is wine made in the Burgundy region in eastern France, in the valleys and slopes west of the Saône River, a tributary of the Rhône. The most famous wines produced here - those commonly referred to as "Burgundies" - are red wines made from Pinot Noir grapes or white wines made from...
. It is located in the communes of Aloxe-Corton
Aloxe-Corton
Aloxe-Corton is a commune in the Côte-d'Or department in Bourgogne in eastern France.- Etymology :Aloxe-Corton comes from the Celtic "al" meaning "high place".Aloxe-Corton is pronounced "Aloss-Corton" ....
, Pernand-Vergelesses
Pernand-Vergelesses
Pernand-Vergelesses is a commune in the Côte-d'Or department in eastern France.-Population:-Wine:Pernand-Vergelesses is one of the wine communes of the Côte de Beaune. The western side of the Corton hill is in the commune, including vineyards used to produce the Grand Cru wine...
and Ladoix-Serrigny
Ladoix-Serrigny
Ladoix-Serrigny is a commune in the Côte-d'Or department in eastern France.-Population:-Wine:Ladoix-Serrigny is one of the wine communes of the Côte de Beaune, and the wines are usually labelled Ladoix, without the Serrigny part. The northeastern part of the Corton hill is in the commune, including...
; and Chardonnay
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. It is originated from the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand...
is the only allowed grape variety. Around 300,000 bottles of white wine are produced each year in the appellation
Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Appellation d’origine contrôlée , which translates as "controlled designation of origin", is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products, all under the auspices of the government bureau Institut National...
. The AOC was created in 1937.
The vines are located on the higher ground of a hilltop that stretches between the Burgundian villages of Ladoix-Serrigny and Pernand-Vergelesses. The slopes planted with the most valuable vineyards are south-east facing on the hilltop, and the land gradually slopes down towards the major French highway Route 74. The red wine appellation of Corton covers the lower part of the hill, and the areas for Corton and Corton-Charlemagne are partially overlapping. Furthermore there is a third Grand Cru appellation on the Corton hill, Charlemagne
Charlemagne (wine)
Charlemagne is a little used Appellation d'origine contrôlée at Grand Cru level for white wine in Côte de Beaune subregion of Burgundy. The vineyards that can use this AOC are located within the communes of Aloxe-Corton and Pernand-Vergelesses...
, for white wine. Charlemagne is only 0.28 hectares in size, so production is limited.
Bonneau du Martray
Bonneau du Martray
Bonneau du Martray is a French wine grower and producer based in Pernand-Vergelesses, in the Côte de Beaune wine-growing region of Burgundy, France. Bonneau du Martray is the only estate in Burgundy to exclusively produce wine from Grand cru vineyards....
is the largest single owner of vines within the Corton-Charlemagne vineyard with 9.5 hectares.
Production
In 2008, 52.44 hectares (129.6 acre) of vineyard surface was in production within the AOC, and 2,237 hectoliter of wine was produced, corresponding to just under 300,000 bottles.Origins
Corton-Charlemagne is named after the French emperor CharlemagneCharlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
, supposedly because his wife preferred white wines as they did not stain his beard.