| Some of the most famous wines in the world come | | | | white wine made from the Sauvignon Blanc grape |
| from Burgundy: Chablis, Beaujolais, Côtes de Nuits, | | | | variety and has a smoky flavour. If you are keen to |
| Côtes de Beaune, Côtes Chalonnaise and Côtes | | | | give it a try, regular tastings are offered at the |
| Mâconnaise. But haven’t you ever wondered | | | | cooperative cellar of Pouilly ‘Les Moulins à |
| how they are made? | | | | vent’. There are also several festivals of regional |
| Grape harvesting (known as les vendanges in French) | | | | produce and a wine fair on 15th August. And in |
| is an immense task involving picking endless rows on | | | | October, Nièvre also boasts its new wine festival |
| slopes of red and white grapes. In Burgundy, grape | | | | (Fête du vin nouveau). |
| harvesting takes places every year in autumn, normally | | | | With so many events to choose from, you’ll be |
| towards the end of September. On average it lasts 10 | | | | sure to have a wonderful wine experience in Burgundy |
| days, but can vary according to the climatic conditions | | | | this autumn. |
| and the number of grape pickers. It involves two | | | | Property Market Update in Burgundy |
| teams: the pickers and the carriers. The pickers are | | | | According to Rightmove, the region of Burgundy is |
| generally smaller people who cut the grapes of the | | | | being recommended to property buyers as it has a |
| vines and the carriers are normally stronger people | | | | very stable property market. This stability and the |
| who carry the baskets and boxes of grapes to the | | | | region’s wineries make it a very attractive place to |
| vehicles ready to be taken away. The teams are | | | | buy a home. Burgundy’s 4 different |
| normally made up of students, neighbours, friends and | | | | départements can all offer you a beautiful place to |
| family members. Usually the teams are made up of | | | | live in. |
| people who have no experience in picking grapes and | | | | Yonne |
| are watched by a vine grower who makes sure that | | | | Prices in this area have increased by 6% to 13% in the |
| they are picking the grapes correctly. Traditionally, the | | | | last few years. They increased by 0.7% last year and |
| grapes are always handpicked as it guarantees the | | | | they are expected to slightly decrease by 5% to 10% |
| best quality wine because the pickers can choose the | | | | in 2009 before recovering in 2010. The average price |
| ripest grapes and they get to remain perfectly | | | | for a 3-bedroom stone house in Yonne is €129,300. |
| unaltered up until their transformation (it is actually a | | | | Sextant Properties can offer you a 2-bedroom house |
| law in Burgundy that all grapes must be picked by | | | | with a fireplace, a fitted kitchen, a large garden and a |
| hand and not by a machine). The grapes are simply | | | | garage for €119,600 (Ref. 18353). If you are looking |
| cut with scissors and then placed in a bucket. As the | | | | for something a little bigger then we can offer you a |
| vines in Burgundy are not very high, a lot of bending is | | | | 4-bedroom house with exposed beams, a garden, a |
| required to be able to pick them. Going up and down | | | | barn, a well and an orchard for €110,000 (Ref. |
| the steep slopes especially when carrying baskets full | | | | 18352). |
| of grapes is not easy, but when it rains or the ground | | | | Côte d’Or |
| is wet it can become very tricky. Gathering the grapes | | | | Prices in the Côte d’Or have increased by 0.1% to |
| is a very hard job which demands a lot of precision | | | | 14% over the last few years. They increased by 0.1% |
| and concentration but there is always an excellent | | | | last year and we expect to see prices slightly |
| atmosphere, with the grape pickers always willing to | | | | decrease this year by about 10% before recovering |
| help each other out. | | | | next year. The average price for a 3-bedroom stone |
| The excitement of the Burgundian harvest is infectious | | | | house in this area is €155,900. Take a look at this 2 |
| and is not something to be missed. At that particular | | | | bedroom habitable stone house which comes with a |
| time of year the region boasts great weather, beautiful | | | | large 1546m2 garden for €121,500 (Rref 19203). If |
| countryside and some of the best restaurants in | | | | you are after a house that does not involve any work |
| France. | | | | to be carried out then have a look at this 5 bedroom |
| The region of Burgundy is divided up into 4 | | | | house with wine cellar for €308,000 (Ref 19229). |
| départements: Yonne, Côte d’Or, Saone et | | | | Saone et Loire |
| Loire and Nièvre. Each département has its own | | | | In this part of Burgundy, prices have increased by up |
| wine and individual celebrations during the grape | | | | to 16% per year over the last few years. Although, last |
| harvesting season. | | | | year they did decrease by 0.4% and they will probably |
| In Yonne, the northern part of Burgundy, the town of | | | | continue to decrease by 5%-7% this year before |
| Joigny holds a huge wine harvest festival (Fête des | | | | increasing again in 2010. The average price for a |
| Vendanges) with many stalls selling wine, regional | | | | 4-bedroom stone house in Saone et Loire is |
| products and crafts, there is also entertainment and | | | | €143,800. In this area you can find a 5-bedroom |
| wine tastings. This year the festival takes place on 11th | | | | house set in a 1.3 acre garden which comes with a |
| October from 10.00am – 6.00pm and costs €1 or | | | | summer kitchen, a mezzanine, a garage and a cellar |
| €3 if you want a tasting glass. | | | | for €140, 720 (Ref. 18277). If you are keen to live in |
| For Burgundians, the best part of the wine year comes | | | | a single storey house then this 2-bedroom house with |
| two months after the harvest, at the world famous | | | | a convertible attic and an outbuilding consisting of a |
| auction at the Hospice de Beaune. Wine buyers from | | | | garage and a workshop could be for you for |
| all over the world go to the département of Côte | | | | €99,000 (Ref. 18272). |
| d’Or in eastern Burgundy to the town of Beaune, to | | | | Nièvre |
| bid on the wines from the latest harvest. Parties are | | | | Prices in Nièvre have increased by up to 15% per |
| held everywhere, but the most famous one is held in | | | | year during the last few years. However, last year |
| the former abbey known as the Clos de Vougeot, | | | | they did decrease by nearly 1% and it is likely that will |
| where 500 people all sit down to dinner, drink great | | | | continue to decrease by about 9% in 2009 before |
| wines and sing! | | | | recovering in 2010. The average price for a |
| In southern Burgundy, in the département of Saone | | | | 4-bedroom stone house in Nièvre is €152,100. Have |
| et Loire, in the wine region of Beaujolais, the most | | | | a look at this 6-bedroom recently renovated house |
| exciting day of the wine making process is usually the | | | | with a large 1750m² garden, a terrace, a summer |
| third Thursday of November, which sees the release | | | | kitchen, a fitted kitchen, a balcony with one of the |
| of the Beaujolais Nouveau. This is the wine made only | | | | bedrooms and a garage for €145,000 (Ref. 17837). If |
| six to eight weeks after the harvest and is proclaimed | | | | you are looking for something a little cheaper then you |
| in restaurants all over the world. The Beaujolais | | | | can buy a 4-bedroom traditional house with a marble |
| Nouveau is a red wine made from the Gamay grape | | | | fireplace, a large garden, a detached garage and a |
| which gives the wine a fruity taste. The wine is | | | | cellar for €90,000 (Ref. 17833). |
| intended for immediate drinking and should not be kept | | | | Burgundy is a beautiful region to buy a home in. With |
| for more than a year. | | | | great food, wine and weather and many things to see |
| The western département of Nièvre is particularly | | | | and do you’ll start to enjoy your new Burgundian |
| well known for its white wine; Pouilly-Fumé. It is a dry | | | | lifestyle very quickly. |