📜 Corton-Charlemagne
A white grand cru from Chardonnay on the hill of Corton, named after Charlemagne.
Corton-Charlemagne is a white grand cru wine from Burgundy in France, made from Chardonnay. The vineyard lies on the hill of Corton in the Côte de Beaune, around the villages of Aloxe-Corton, Pernand-Vergelesses and Ladoix. The name recalls Charlemagne. According to legend, the emperor ordered white vines to be planted so that red wine stains would not spoil his beard.
The hill of Corton has both a red grand cru, Corton, and a white one, Corton-Charlemagne. For the white wine, plots facing west and south with limestone soils are used. The wine is dense and mineral, smelling of citrus, nuts, honey and spices, with bright acidity.
Corton-Charlemagne keeps for a long time and opens up over the years. Young, it can be closed. It is a protected appellation (PDO) and expensive. It is served with fish, lobster, poultry and hard cheeses. It is one of the best known white grands crus of Burgundy and an example of how history and wine are linked.
How it connects to Wine
📜 Corton-Charlemagne ← main grape of ← 🍇 Chardonnay → kind of → 🍇 Grape varieties → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Related to
- 📍 Côte de Beaune
- Main grapes
- 🍇 Chardonnay
- Wines
- 🍷 White wine, 🍷 Still wine
Frequently asked questions
What is Corton-Charlemagne?
A white Burgundy grand cru from Chardonnay from the hill of Corton.
Why is it named after Charlemagne?
According to legend, the emperor ordered white vines planted so red wine would not stain his beard.
How is Corton-Charlemagne served?
With fish, lobster, poultry and hard cheeses.
What to read next
- 🍷 Still wine — Ordinary wine without carbon dioxide bubbles.
- 🍷 White wine — Wine made from grape juice without the skins; it can come from pale and even dark berries.
Similar
📜 Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet · 📜 Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet · 📜 Bâtard-Montrachet · 📜 Charlemagne · 📜 Chevalier-Montrachet · 📜 Montrachet
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.