Burgundys

Burgundys refers to the people and cultural heritage of the historic region of Burgundy in eastern France. The term also encompasses Burgundian traditions, including the region’s long-standing association with viticulture. In modern administration, the historic area largely lies within the larger Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, with the core historic core traditionally including the provinces of Côte-d'Or, Saône-et-Loire, Yonne, and Nièvre.

Historically, Burgundy rose as the Duchy of Burgundy in the Middle Ages and played a prominent role in European politics and culture before eventually being incorporated into the French crown. The Burgundian realm encompassed territories that extended beyond today’s administrative boundaries, contributing to a distinctive medieval and Renaissance cultural footprint that influenced architecture, courts, and art.

The Burgundian legacy is especially evident in wine. Burgundy is renowned for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, produced in subregions such as the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune in Côte-d'Or, the Mâconnais in Saône-et-Loire, and the Chablis area in Yonne. These wines form a major economic and cultural pillar of the region and are central to its international reputation.

The Burgundian language or dialect historically spoken in the area is now extinct, with French becoming dominant by the early modern period. Today, Burgundys is primarily used in reference to the historic region’s population, heritage, and wine culture, rather than as a contemporary political or linguistic community.

See also: Burgundy (wine), Duchy of Burgundy, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.