The wines of the Aloxe-Corton village and Premier Cru appellations, as well as those of the Corton Grand Cru, are predominantly red. However, the white Grands Crus of Corton-Charlemagne and Corton also contribute to the fame of this iconic hill.
The village of Aloxe is built on a small rise at the very foot of the Corton hill, whose name, added to the village’s one in 1862, brought its fame. A few remarkable buildings such as the Saint-Médard Church, the Château Grancey, and the Château de Corton-André—with its shimmering roof that catches the eye from the national road—give the village its prestige and authentic Burgundian character.
Other notable symbols of Aloxe-Corton include Charlemagne’s Cross and the small forest at the top of the hill, which looks like a monk’s tonsure. Covering 66 hectares and planted with ash, beech, oak, and chestnut trees, this forest crowns one of the most famous hills in the world, overlooking the three villages of Aloxe-Corton, Ladoix-Serrigny, and Pernand-Vergelesses.
The slopes of the Corton hill are home to 167 hectares of vines classified as Grand Cru, producing both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay under the Corton and Corton-Charlemagne appellations. In 775, Emperor Charlemagne donated a vineyard he owned on Corton hill to the Collegiate Church of Saint-Andoche in Saulieu. Legend has it he had the vines replanted with white grapes to avoid the red wine stains that too often marked his flowing white beard. This Clos Charlemagne forms the historic core of the Grand Cru, which later expanded to include today’s climats of Le Charlemagne (Aloxe-Corton) and En Charlemagne (Pernand-Vergelesses). The Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru spans 72 hectares—49 of which lie within Aloxe-Corton—and extends beyond these original boundaries. Straddling the three communes of Aloxe-Corton, Ladoix-Serrigny, and Pernand-Vergelesses is a third prestigious Grand Cru: Corton, the only red Grand Cru of the Côte de Beaune. It boasts a deep color and a superb balance between structure, power, and elegant freshness, as seen in the Corton “Cuvée Charlotte Dumay” from the Hospices de Beaune. The white Grand Crus of Corton, Charlemagne, and Corton-Charlemagne are distinguished by their intense golden hue, even when young. Their aromatic power, extraordinary freshness, intensity, and lingering finish are truly remarkable—perfectly exemplified by the 2018 Corton-Charlemagne from Domaine Dubreuil-Fontaine.
One-third of the vines in the Aloxe-Corton appellation are classified as Premiers Crus. The vineyard spans the villages of Aloxe-Corton and Ladoix-Serrigny, forming a link between Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune. The appellation includes no fewer than 14 Premiers Crus, the most renowned being Clos des Maréchaudes, Les Valozières, and Les Fournières. The Aloxe-Corton Premier Cru “Les Maréchaudes” from Château de Meursault is a fine example.
The Aloxe-Corton village wines are predominantly red—deeply colored, powerful, full of character, and well-suited to ageing. Their profiles vary slightly depending on soil composition: in the north, stony soils produce softer, fruitier wines, while in the south, clay and marl soils yield more robust, firm, and structured wines that retain their elegance. The whites, though less common, are supple and generous, with a spicy, mineral bouquet in their youth that evolves into subtle notes of brioche, hazelnut, and honey.
Let yourself be charmed by this delightful village, rich in cultural heritage, where the typical Burgundian architecture equals only the excellence of its wines. Take a walk through these legendary vineyards and take in some truly breathtaking views!
