Where the northern portion of the Côte d'Or in Burgundy keeps its golden eye on the Pinot Noir grape, in the south both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir share the Côte de Beaune's center stage. Running from the village of Aloxe-Corton through the sumptuous fields of Chassagne-Montrachet, the Côte de Beaune can be difficult to characterize given its wealth of wine riches. Red wines from Beaune or Volnay, for example, delight across the tongue like a graceful ballroom dancer, while Pommard, wearing a coat and tails, shows more structure and poise. The further south we travel along the Côte de Beaune's limestone slopes, the deeper we go into the heart of Chardonnay. If gold were a flavor, wine writer Matt Kramer once remarked, it would taste like Meursault.  The communes of Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet too are outstanding—their delights share butter and herbs and minerals on the same delicious plate.

Running from north to south, the towns of the Côte de Beaune include: Pernand-Vergelesses (white/red wines), Ladoix-Serrigny (white), Aloxe-Corton (white/red), Savigny-les-Beaune (red), Chorey-les-Beaune (red), Beaune (white/red), Pommard (red), Volnay (red), Monthélie (red), St. Romain (white/red), Auxey-Duresses (white/red), Meursault (white), Puligny-Montrachet (white), St. Aubin (white/red), Chassagne-Montrachet (white/red) and Santenay (red).