Bourgogne Mousseux is a sparkling red wine from Burgundy. Unusually, and for no obvious reason, this style has its own individual appellation, rather than being treated simply as a sub-style within the Bourgogne or Cremant de Bourgogne appellation. It shares this trait with two other Bourgogne styles: Bourgogne Aligote and Bourgogne Passe-tout-grains. The Bourgogne Mousseux title and its production laws were established in March 1943.
Burgundy's other sparkling wine appellation is Cremant de Bourgogne, which is reserved exclusively for white and rosé wines.
The primary grape varieties used in Bourgogne Mousseux wines are Pinot Noir and Gamay. In the Yonne, Burgundy's northernmost department, the rare and idiosyncratic Cesar may also be used. Small additions (up to 15%) of Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris may be used in any Bourgogne Mousseux wine.
The Bourgogne Mousseux appellation covers nearly 400 communes and their terroirs – from the cool, chalky soils around Chablis in the north of Burgundy, to the warmer granitic soils of Beaujolais in the Rhone administrative department. The amount of territory included in the appellation leads to perceptible differences in the styles of these relatively rare wines.
