Regions & Grapes

Corton-Charlemagne: an encounter of excellence

A few facts

Region Burgundy
Estate Muzard Lucien & Fils
Colour Golden, white gold tints
Nose Brioche, caramelised baked apple
Mouth Velvety, unctuous
A word
from Béa
This lovely fat, velvety wine is considered
to be one of the world’s best dry whites. It
shouldn’t fail to please!

The Corton-Charlemagne appellation

Corton-Charlemagne is one of few wines in the world to bear the name of two emperors, including Charlemagne, who is said to have owned a vineyard on the Corton hillside during the 7th century. Charlemagne would allegedly spill red wine onto his beard when he drank a little too quickly, which earned him the nickname of “emperor with the flowery beard”. Considering the stains to be unworthy of her husband’s status, Liutgarde, his fifth wife, suggested he plant some white grape varieties. That is how Chardonnay vines appeared on the soils of Aloxe and gave rise to Corton-Charlemagne!

This wine is now one of the 33 Grands Crus of Burgundy. The vines grow in the Côtes de Beaune appellation area across Aloxe-Corton, Ladoix-Serrigny and Pernand-Vergelesses. The vineyard covers a surface area of 51 hectares and is planted exclusively with Chardonnay. Average annual production is just 2,244 hectolitres,

or 230,000 bottles.

Domaine Muzard Lucien & Fils

Domaine Muzard belongs to an ancient Santenay family whose winegrowing activity has been passed from father to son for nine generations (since Jacques Muzard in 1645). During the sixties, Monsieur & Madame Lucien Muzard developed the estate by first renting parcels of vines, then purchasing them, one by one. The 16-hectare family estate is now run by Claude & Hervé Muzard. It covers several Climates in the appellation areas of Santenay, Chassagne Montrachet and Pommard.

The estate’s overall production is made up of 95% red wines and 5% white. The vines are planted on the marly and clay-limestone soils of the Côtes-de-Beaune region.

To find out more

Fact sheet