Meursault Burgundy - red burgundy
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Burgundy and Champagne have both been recognised by UNESCO, in the latest round of new inclusions to the cultural world heritage list.

The 39th assembly of UNESCO, held in Bonn Germany on July 4, saw five cultural sites accepted – two in Denmark, one in Turkey and two in France.

Both French sites are recognised for their viticultural heritage; the hillsides, houses and cellars of Champagne around Reims and Epernay, and the 1,247 climats, or individual terroirs, of the Côte d’Or in Burgundy. Also recognised are the historic centres of Beaune and Dijon.

Both regions are now eligible for financial assistance to help preservation projects.

‘I would like to pay tribute to all of those involved in this adventure, whose faith in the project and passionate support have never wavered. This inscription is the result of a collective effort, conducted in close cooperation by the local authorities, State services, scientific committee, the wine world, businesses and patrons, and over 64,000 people who joined our Support Committee’, declared Aubert de Villaine, President of the Association des Climats du vignoble de Bourgogne.

‘We are duty bound to preserve and maintain this landscape, know-how and heritage,’ said Pierre Cheval, president of the Associations Paysages du Champagne.

‘This means that the trilogy of great winemaking regions of France – Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne – have all been recognised by UNESCO,’ Pascal Loridon, marketing director of the Burgundy Wine Bureau told decanter.com, referring to the inclusion of Saint Emilion in 1999.

Other wine regions to have UNESCO protection include Piedmont in Italy and the Mosel in Germany.

The two French regions have either begun or are planning celebrations – with a Paulée de Climats in the Château de Mersault on July 9th, while impromptu crowds gathered upon the news in the Champagne town of Hautvillers, the birthplace of Dom Perignon.

An indepth exhibit centering around the climats of Burgundy is planned for the new Cité des Vin in Beaune, expected to open in 2016.

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Jane Anson
Jane Anson

Jane Anson was Decanter’s Bordeaux correspondent until 2021 and has lived in the region since 2003. She writes a monthly wine column for Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post, and is the author of Bordeaux Legends: The 1855 First Growth Wines (also published in French as Elixirs). In addition, she has contributed to the Michelin guide to the Wine Regions of France and was the Bordeaux and Southwest France author of The Wine Opus and 1000 Great Wines That Won’t Cost a Fortune. An accredited wine teacher at the Bordeaux École du Vin, Anson holds a masters in publishing from University College London, and a tasting diploma from the Bordeaux faculty of oenology.

Roederer awards 2016: International Feature Writer of the Year