Burgundy: Organization of trade

Unlike the bordeaux trade with its large volume of single appellations, and many stratifications of those who sell it, the Burgundian wine trade became polarized between growers and négociants, or merchants. Because the laws of equal inheritance have been strictly applied in a region of such valuable vineyards, individual growers may for example produce just one barrel, enough to fill just 25 cases, of a particular appellation. The market for burgundy was originally built by the merchants, who would buy grapes and wine from many different growers before blending and selling the results. Increasingly individual growers with leading vineyards have been bottling their own wines. Since the early 1990s, the distinctions between growers and merchants have become increasingly blurred, with many widely admired growers also producing another range of wines made from grapes they did not grow themselves, while most merchants have been increasing their vineyard holdings. For more details, see négociants.