Situated just west of Switzerland, and south of Champagne lies the sun-drenched region of Burgundy where some of France’s most exceptional wines originate.  

The region is sub-divided into distinct districts each of which has its own appellation.  The northern most district, somewhat detached from the rest of Burgundy, is the white wine only village of Chablis.  Chablis’ climate makes it difficult to grow red grapes hence the areas focus on white and in particular Chardonnay — the main white grape of the entire region of Burgundy.  Chablis is without doubt one of the worlds most famous wines and it is still today generally synonymous with high quality thanks, in part, to the strict laws governed by the districts appellation. 

The wine here is renown for its elegance and crispness of acidity due mainly to the chalky soil.  The climate, being noticeably chilly, also plays an important part in the style of wine produced.  It is important to remember, however, that styles and indeed quality do vary from vineyard to vineyard.  In short, there are four levels of quality. 

Petit Chablis is the name given to the areas surrounding Chablis proper producing, in general, a lower quality of wine.  One level up from that is Chablis itself where the bulk of grapes are grown.  Quality again can vary particularly where the wine is bottled outside of the area, so be sure to check that you’re buying estate bottled wine. 

Chablis Premier Cru, the next quality level, amounts to about 25% of the areas production and homes some of the best vineyard sites.  Prices tend to be slightly higher than Chablis as a result of this classification.  However, it is Chablis Grand Cru that have built the reputation of Chablis in general.  You may need to take out a mortgage to pay for a bottle, and you shouldn’t be surprised if it takes a few years of cellaring before it truly shows its best qualities.