Let ’ s imagine that all of Winnipeg is a vineyard similar to Burgundy . If you wanted basic Winnipeg wine , you could pick grapes , throw them in a vat and slap a label on it that says “ Winnipeg .” Winnipeg , however , is a big city . There are two large rivers , several different soil types , different topography , and on any given day it can hail in Transcona and be sunny in St . James . As you can imagine , the grapes will vary a lot in this giant Winnipeg vineyard , so let ’ s narrow our focus further . Let ’ s pick grapes in only the St . Vital region of Winnipeg .
St Vital is still a large area , but most of the vines will live close to the Red River , growing in clay soil in fairly consistent weather . These grapes will taste different than the grapes from West Kildonan , and will be a step up in quality from the more general “ Winnipeg ” region , so let ’ s label it “ St . Vital Villages .” From St Vital , we can narrow our focus further to one street in the sub-region that , year after year , produces amazing grapes : Nicolet . On that street , the clay is a bit deeper , the water table is lower , and the vines need to dig deep to find nutrients and minerals . After years of study , we know that this street produces the best grapes . We now have St . Vital Premier Cru Nicolet . Further study shows that one block on that street has the best of all conditions . Perfect topography , great soil , perfect sun exposure , and it is about the size of the Banville & Jones wine store . All these conditions create the perfect environment that consistently produces the best Pinot Noir . In Burgundy terms , we would call it Banville & Jones Grand Cru .
EXPLORING BURGUNDY Where does one begin in such a historical wine region ? If Chardonnay is your grape , the steely wines of Chablis have plenty to offer you . Moving further south into the Côte d ’ Or , both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are grown . The Côte d ’ Or is split up into two main divisions : the Côte de Beaune and the Côte de Nuits . The Côte de Beaune is predominantly made up of limestone soils , making it perfect for Chardonnay and for lighterstyle Pinot Noir , whereas the Côte de Nuits has a limestone and clay soil that produces richer and heavier Pinot Noir . In Southern Burgundy , where Chardonnay , Pinot Noir , and Gamay ( the grape of Beaujolais ) are grown ,
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