Burgundy can rightly claim to be one of France's oldest and noblest wine producing regions. From its numerous, fragmented vineyard plots it has two regal assets, the aristocratic pinot noir giving velvety smooth, perfumed reds and the regal, globe-trotting chardonnay for it subtle, full-flavoured whites. At the heart of the region lies its great production area, the world famous Cote d'Or, comprised of the Cote de Nuits and the Cote de Beaune, which give refined wines of intense warmth, balance and power.

The Beaujolais region is officially a part of Burgundy. In practice however its wines produced from the gamay grape make it a distinct area in its own right. The versatility and charm of Beaujolais gives immediate pleasure and the very best come from a cluster of 10 village 'Crus' in the Haut Beaujolais to the north, where the vines thrive on the lime-free granite soil. This "sunshine-in-a-glass" region is renowned equally as much for its bonhomie as for its juicy, flowery-fragrant wines.