What Ten Years in Burgundy Taught Me About Wine and History

For me, the last ten years living here in Burgundy have completely changed the way I see wine. I had always loved the idea of Burgundy, the silky, complex Pinot Noirs, the rich whites with those incredible almond, hazelnut, and honeyed notes, but living here among the vines is something entirely different.

There’s something special about waking up so close to the vineyards, hearing the church bells in tiny wine villages, and spending evenings listening to winemakers, vineyard workers, and passionate locals tell stories that have been passed down for generations. After a while, you realise Burgundy wine isn’t just about what’s in the glass. It’s about history, people, and centuries of tradition that still shape the wines today.

The Dukes of Burgundy

One of the most fascinating parts of Burgundy’s story is the role played by the Dukes of Burgundy. For hundreds of years, Burgundy was effectively its own powerful state, ruled by the Capetian and later the Valois Dukes. By the 13th and 14th centuries, the duchy had become one of the wealthiest and most influential regions in Europe.

Then came Philip the Bold.

Through his marriage to Margaret of Flanders, Philip expanded Burgundy’s power and wealth enormously, connecting the region to major trade routes and wealthy northern territories. Burgundy wine suddenly found itself at the centre of royal courts, lavish banquets, and European politics.

But the dukes weren’t just wealthy rulers, they were obsessed with quality.

In 1395, Philip the Bold famously outlawed much of the Gamay grape in favour of Pinot Noir because he believed the region should focus on producing wines of elegance and character rather than simple high-volume wines. Imagine that over 600 years ago, Burgundy was already protecting the identity and quality of its wines.

And honestly, you still feel that mindset everywhere today.

When you walk through Burgundy’s vineyards, every tiny plot of land has a story. The old stone walls, the medieval villages, the monastery cellars, and the famous vineyard names all connect back to this incredible history. It’s why Burgundy feels so different from many other wine regions around the world.

That’s also one of the reasons I love sharing Burgundy with travellers through The Burgundy Wine Vault.

Seeing Burgundy through the eyes of someone local changes everything. It’s not just about tasting wine; it’s about understanding why these wines exist in the first place. When travellers walk through the vineyards, visit ancient cellars, meet producers, and hear the stories behind the region, the wines suddenly make much more sense.

A glass of Pinot Noir becomes more than just a wine — it becomes part of a story that began centuries ago with monks, dukes, families, and generations of people dedicated to the land.

That’s what I hope people take away when they travel with me: not just great wine, but a real connection to Burgundy itself.