Beyond Chablis: Discover the True Depth of White Burgundy

Posted by Benjamin Yan on March 02, 2026

After many years of wine retail in Australia, we’ve noticed something interesting: for many local wine lovers, White Burgundy equals Chablis.

And while Chablis is a fantastic introduction to the region, it represents only one part of a much larger and more complex story. If you truly want to understand white Burgundy — and why it remains the global benchmark for Chardonnay — you need to look beyond Chablis.

What Is White Burgundy?

White Burgundy is almost entirely made from Chardonnay, grown across different sub-regions of Burgundy in eastern France. What makes Burgundy special is not the grape — Chardonnay is grown everywhere. It’s the terroir. Each village expresses Chardonnay differently depending on soil composition, climate, altitude, and vineyard exposure.

The key white wine regions of Burgundy, from north to south, include:

Chablis — Northern Burgundy; cool, steely, mineral-driven
Côte de Beaune — The heartland of great white Burgundy; Puligny, Chassagne, Meursault
Côte Chalonnaise — South of Côte d’Or; excellent value alternatives (Mercurey, Rully, Montagny)
Mâconnais — Further south; Mâcon-Villages, Pouilly-Fumé, Vitré-Cléssé

Most Australians are familiar with Chablis — but the true pinnacle of white Burgundy lies in the villages of the Côte de Beaune, where some of the most sought-after and expensive white wines in the world are produced.

Chablis: The Entry Point (With Exceptional Exceptions)

Chablis is located in the northernmost part of Burgundy, geographically closer to Champagne than to Beaune. Its cool climate and Kimmeridgian limestone soils — rich in ancient marine fossils — produce wines that are lean, high in acidity, mineral-driven, and typically unoaked or lightly oaked.

This is why Chablis has become the most recognised white Burgundy in export markets like Australia: it’s more approachable in price compared to the great villages of the Côte de Beaune, and its razor-sharp, oyster-shell style is immediately appealing with seafood.

There are legendary producers here — Domaine François Raveneau, Domaine Rene et Vincent Dauvissat — that produce some of the most collectible white wines in the world. But at a regional level, Chablis sits in the mid-tier of Burgundy’s quality hierarchy. It delivers precision and freshness, but it does not always reach the depth, texture, and layered complexity found further south.

Think of Chablis as a brilliant overture — but not the full symphony.

Where White Burgundy Reaches Its Peak: The Côte de Beaune Villages

If you want to experience white Burgundy at its highest expression, three villages are essential to know:

Puligny-Montrachet

Puligny-Montrachet is widely regarded as producing the world’s finest dry white wine. Its Grand Cru vineyards — Le Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet, Bâtard-Montrachet — have inspired reverence for centuries. The style is one of extraordinary precision and tension: refined, mineral, and elegant, with remarkable ageing potential. Even the village-level wines here carry that quality signature.

Producers to look for: Domaine Leflaive, Domaine Faiveley, Domaine Paul Pernot.

Chassagne-Montrachet

Chassagne-Montrachet shares the southern portion of the great Montrachet vineyard with Puligny. Its wines tend to be slightly broader and more powerful than Puligny, offering richness balanced by structure and natural acidity. Many critics feel the best Chassagne represents extraordinary value relative to Puligny, with comparable depth at more accessible prices.

Producers to look for: Marc Colin, Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey, Domaine Jean-Noël Gagnard.

Meursault

Meursault is famous above all for texture. These are the most immediately seductive wines of the Côte de Beaune — lush, creamy, nutty, with a generous mid-palate weight and long, complex finishes. While Puligny offers precision and tension, Meursault offers warmth and depth.

The best Meursault Premier Crus — Les Génevrières, Les Perrires, Les Charmes — are among the most sought-after white wines at auction. Village-level expressions are considerably more accessible and still beautifully expressive.

Producers to look for: Domaine Comte Lafon, Domaine Pierre Morey, Domaine Michel Bouzereau.

Best Value Alternative: Mercurey Blanc (Côte Chalonnaise)

If your focus is value for money, the Côte Chalonnaise offers excellent opportunities — particularly in Mercurey. While this area is more often associated with red wines, its white wines can offer impressive balance, good concentration, classic Burgundy character, and much more accessible pricing than Côte de Beaune.

A great example currently available at Winemore:

2022 Joseph Faiveley Mercurey Clos Rochette Blanc

This wine delivers structure, freshness, and genuine elegance — a fantastic introduction to white Burgundy beyond Chablis at a more approachable price point. Faiveley is one of Burgundy’s great négociant-éleveurs, with an outstanding track record for quality across all price points.

Food Pairing: White Burgundy at the Table

The style of the white Burgundy you choose should guide your pairing. As a general principle:

Chablis — Oysters, raw shellfish, sashimi, goat’s cheese. The high acidity and minerality are perfect with raw seafood.
Meursault — Butter-poached lobster, roast chicken with cream sauce, risotto with truffle. The wine’s richness needs equally generous food.
Puligny-Montrachet — Freshwater fish (barramundi, trout), scallops, delicate egg dishes. The precision of Puligny works best with food that doesn’t overwhelm its elegance.
Chassagne-Montrachet — A versatile style that pairs well with anything between the above extremes — pan-roasted fish, pasta with cream, mild cheeses.

How to Understand White Burgundy: A Tasting Exercise

One of the most effective ways to understand the difference between Chablis and Côte de Beaune whites is a side-by-side tasting. Start with a Chablis Premier Cru (perhaps from William Fèvre or Domaine Billaud-Simon), then move to a Meursault village wine from a quality producer. The contrast in texture, richness, and aromatics is revelatory — and often converts Chablis-only drinkers to committed Côte de Beaune enthusiasts on the spot.

If you’d like to try a curated selection, browse our full White Burgundy collection at Winemore:

Shop White Burgundy at Winemore

Explore More from Winemore’s Wine Journal

Frequently Asked Questions

Is all white Burgundy the same as Chablis?

No — Chablis is just one sub-region of Burgundy, located in the far north. The most celebrated white Burgundy comes from the Côte de Beaune, particularly the villages of Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, and Meursault. These wines are stylistically very different from Chablis — richer, rounder, and more complex.

Why is white Burgundy so expensive?

Supply and demand. Burgundy’s finest white vineyards are tiny — often just a few hectares — and global demand is intense. Frost, hail, and drought regularly reduce yields further. The combination of minute supply and growing international enthusiasm (particularly from Asia and the US) has pushed prices to extraordinary levels at the top end. However, entry-level and village wines from quality producers remain accessible.

What is the difference between Premier Cru and Grand Cru in white Burgundy?

Premier Cru designates wines from specific, named vineyards within a village that are recognised as producing superior quality. Grand Cru is the top classification — only 33 vineyards across all of Burgundy hold this status. In the white wine context, Grand Cru includes the legendary Le Montrachet and its neighbours. Grand Cru whites are among the most expensive bottles in the world.

Should I decant white Burgundy?

Younger, leaner whites (Chablis, village-level wines) benefit from 15–30 minutes in a glass before drinking. Fuller, richer whites — Meursault Premier Cru, aged Puligny — can handle a brief decant, which helps open the aromatics. Older examples (10 years+) should be opened carefully and served soon after — they can fade quickly once exposed to air.

What is the best vintage for white Burgundy to buy now?

The 2022 vintage is outstanding and currently one of the most recommended for white Burgundy newcomers and collectors alike. Generous yields after several difficult years, excellent balance between richness and acidity, and beautiful aromatic expression make 2022 wines particularly approachable. The 2020 and 2019 vintages are also excellent but less available. Ask our team at Winemore for current recommendations.

Written by the Winemore team — Melbourne specialists in fine and rare wine, based in Chadstone.

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