A fundraising campaign supporting the Cité
The Bourgogne wine region: a thousand-year-old cultural heritage
Bourgogne has been known throughout the world for its History, its heritage, its vineyards and its wines. It is indeed,
the birthplace of a great viticultural model; it is the archetype of terroir-based vineyards and is constantly searching
to achieve results that are embodied in the “Climats”. Nowhere else in the world have people sought to link wine
production to its place of origin in such a precise and intimate manner, and this has been the case for centuries. This
explains why the “Climats du vignoble de Bourgogne”, within the zone from Dijon to Maranges, were registered in
2015 as a Unesco World Heritage Site, in recognition of their universal value.
Three sites to convey the Bourgogne wine culture
A major cultural, educational and tourism project was launched to preserve and share this thousand-year-old wine
heritage: the Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne, situated in three emblematic locations: Chablis, Beaune and
Mâcon. This network of three cultural as well as touristic sites is designed to promote Bourgogne, its heritage, its
“Climats” and its wines. Whether you are a novice or an experienced wine lover, the Cité des Climats et vins de
Bourgogne offers you the opportunity to discover the world of wines and wine through friendly, sensory and
educational experiences, and especially through immersive tours. By sharing this age-old cultural heritage with as
many people as possible, the Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne is sure to contribute to the cultural influence of
this great wine region.
An investment of 22 million euros
To create these three centers covering 5,000 m2 of exhibition space, over sixty companies from all over Bourgogne
will be involved. The total investment for the three sites amounts to 22 million euros, museography included. To date,
80 % of the total budget has been reached with strong support from wine professionals via the Bureau
Interprofessionnel des Vins de Bourgogne (BIVB) and the city of Beaune, who are the two contracting authorities, as
well as the support of numerous institutions and local organizations. The remaining 20 %, i.e., 6 million euros, will be
financed by fundraising.
A promising start to the campaign: 2 million euros collected
The campaign, led by a group of patrons from Burgundy growers and merchants, has been anticipated for several
months, with a view to raising the first funds. To date, of the 6 million euros needed, nearly 3.5 million euros have
been pledged, of which 2 million have been collected.
This was achieved thanks to the commitment of around fifty donors, mostly from the wine industry, but also from dedicated local and international partners.
Since the beginning of the year, the Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne has brought together its first donors for site visits. The first two were organized last January and March in Beaune and the next ones will be organized in Chablis and in Mâcon. These visits enable the donors to see the progress of the work and to meet the teams on site.
Bourgogne enthusiasts, lovers of our beautiful region, vineyard or wine professionals, wine lovers, local businesses, living heritage advocates… The Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne invites all those who wish to contribute to this unique and unifying project to join its circle of existing patrons.
