Saint Romain

The village appellation of Saint Romain is technically part of the Cote de Beaune, although it’s situated in an isolated valley to the north of the Cote d’Or’s main escarpment. The view from Saint-Romain is impressive, taking in the Saône River and vineyards below – and it has made this spot popular with settlers since prehistoric times. Consequently, the vines here were amongst the first to be planted in Burgundy, in the narrow valley west of Auxey-Duresses. There are no Premiers or Grands Crus here—the only village appellation without either—but you’ll frequently see wines mention the name of the single plot they originate from, and these are often prestigious and well-known in their own right. The terroir (soil and rock) here changes distinctly as you move up the valley towards the village. Travelling from Auxey-Duresses, the left-hand side is more suited to Pinot Noir. The south-facing right side is given over to the village vineyards, where the terroir is more apt to produce Chardonnay. And though it was historically known as a white wine region, today red wine accounts for almost half of production (45%).