Volnay
Volnay is a village in the Côte de Beaune sub-region of Burgundy
Renowned for making some of the smoothest, most delicate Pinot Noir wines of the southern Côte d’Or. It is located between Pommard (famous for its powerful reds) and Meursault (the home of rich whites),
Over the centuries, the wines of Pommard and Volnay have alternately shared popularity, according to the fashions of the age. When powerful, full-bodied wines are in favor (as in the current global market), Pommard enjoys the limelight. But when silkier, smoother wines are in demand, Volnay takes center stage – as it did in the 17th and 18th centuries. The appellation’s wines are often referred to as being the most “feminine” of Burgundian reds, and are contrasted with their more “masculine” neighbors.
Volnay has had its own appellation since 1937, reserved exclusively for red wines made from Pinot Noir. There are no grand cru vineyards, but more than half of the vineyards covered by the 213 hectares (526 acres) of the Volnay title – 34 in number – are rated as Volnay Premier Cru.
These are situated in a tight band of high-quality terroir stretching right across Volnay from Pommard to Meursault. As with almost all of the region’s most prized vineyards, this strip is located on the mid-slope of the Côte d’Or escarpment. Here, the vines benefit from well-drained, limestone-rich soils and a southeast-facing aspect – helping the plants to capitalize on the morning and early afternoon sunlight.
The figure of 34 premier cru sites does not include those additional Volnay Santenots premier cru wines which are grown in a 29ha (71.5 acre) of vineyards which are technically on the other side of the Meursault-Volnay commune boundary and produce both red and white wines, though the whites from Santenots take the Meursault and Meursault Premier Cru appellations.