Monthélie

Discover the Monthélie appellation

The Monthélie appellation is not very well-known, especially if you compare it to some heavy hitters from the Côte de Beaune, like Pommard, Meursault or Volnay. Although, as small as it may be (its vineyard represents a bit less than 160 hectares in total) and despite being overshadowed by its bigger brothers, this inconspicuous appellation is one of the best hidden gems you'll find in the Burgundy region. Located in the hills surrounding the village, the Monthélie vineyard manages to produce up to 4,800 hectoliters of wine every year.

Under the supervision of the Abbey of Cluny during the Middles-Ages, the vineyard was planted on a soil made of marls, gravel, red clay and limestone. The majority of the local production is made of red wines (using Pinot Noir grapes), with something like 10% for white wines (made with Chardonnay grapes). Monthélie has been almost entirely dedicated to winemaking since the 18th century.

In the 19th century, the Monthélie vineyard was often considered as one of the best wines available in Burgundy, but it unfortunately never reached its full potential. The fact that Monthélie wines were often sold by wine merchants under the Volnay or Pommard label didn't help either. The proper Monthélie AOC saw the light of day in 1937. In 2002, specific guidelines were also created to determine what the appellation should be. Today, Monthélie produces many Premier Cru wines, among which: Sur La Velle, Le Meix Bataille, Les Duresses, Les Clous…

Discover the Monthélie wine.