The Sommelier Society of America Master Class Seminars and Certifications series.

The SSA Master class series offers students and alumni the opportunity to continue their wine education with a focused purpose, diving into one major wine region to dissect its specific terroirs, history, varieties, winemakers, and more. Led by experts in the business, the Masterclass series are comprised of 1 and 2 90-minute to two hour sessions. Students will taste wines and engage in deeper discussions on producers, terroir, and wine styles.

BURGUNDY One-Day Master class:
An Exploration of the Côte Chalonnaise

Situated just south of the Côte de Beaune, the Côte Chalonnaise is one of Burgundy’s most compelling and sometimes underappreciated wine regions. Stretching through the villages of Bouzeron, Rully, Mercurey, Givry, and Montagny, this historic corridor offers remarkable diversity and an increasingly important perspective on contemporary Burgundy.

In this seminar, Yannick will guide you through the distinctive terroirs, grape varieties, appellations, and winemaking traditions of the Côte Chalonnaise. Through seven wines, we will examine how Aligoté, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir express themselves across the region, while exploring the differences in geology, exposition, elevation, and microclimate that give each appellation its individual identity.

The tasting will move from the Aligoté-dominated vineyards of Bouzeron through the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir of Rully, Mercurey, and Givry, concluding with the limestone-rich slopes of Montagny. Along the way, we will discuss the Côte Chalonnaise's historical relationship with the Côte d'Or, the importance of Premier Cru vineyards, and the producers who are helping redefine the region's reputation today.

Wine tasting selection:
Domaine A. & P. de Villaine
Bouzeron 2024

Vincent Dureuil-Janthial
Rully Blanc 2023

Domaine du Cellier aux Moines
Mercurey Les Margotons Blanc 2022

Domaine Faiveley
Mercurey Vieilles Vignes Rouge 2023

Danjean-Berthoux
Givry 1er Cru La Plante Blanc 2023

François Lumpp
Givry 1er Cru À Vigne Rouge 2023

Cottenceau Montagny 1er Cru Blanc
2023

BURGUNDY One-Day Master class: An Exploration of the Côte Chalonnaise
Presented by YANNICK BENJAMIN
October 28 - One Day Only
6pm-8pm, Sud de France location in Midtown
$115