Volnay

Volnay takes its name from the village of Volnay 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 The plots are almost exclusively planted with Pinot Noir, a grape variety highly susceptible to downy mildew. This yields colorful, rich wines with moderate tannins. Volnay tends to have a reputation as a delicate wine, in comparison to Pommard, which is smooth and subtle: the finest red wine of the Côte de Beaune. This wine is aged for 12 to 24 months. This results in 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; one can detect the scent of violets, a classic aroma of Burgundy wines. Volnay lives up to its promise with a light, fruity palate—a smooth wine. Volnay may be a small geographical area, but the appellation is divided into 30 climats, Premiers Crus, and Village appellations. For the record, in 312, the first vines in the Côte d’Or were planted after having been banned to avoid competing with Italian wines. The vines suffered greatly in 1910 due to downy mildew.