The Heart of Burgundy

In the heart of Burgundy lies Beaune, the center of wine production and business in this famous wine region of France. My visit to Burgundy in June 2023 was all too short but even shorter was the opportunity I would have to create an ultra-high-resolution photo of the incredible vineyards this area is known for.

Creating ultra-high-resolution photos takes considerable time to plan, set up, and especially shoot (oh, yes, and countless hours of post-production work as well). In between other engagements, I knew I would only have two hours to pull off an ultra-high-resolution image in Burgundy. After researching where I would be when the opportunity to slip away and photograph presented itself, I decided that the Belissand Beaune Premier Cru vineyard was a good starting point. From various satellite images and street views, I could tell the vineyard had vine rows running in the direction I wanted and more importantly, had a traditional tile-roofed stone building that I could use as a focal point. I was not sure I had made the right decision but after a short 20-minute walk from the center of Beaune, I was happy to see that my research had paid off and the location was perfect for the image I had in mind.

For Burgundy wine lovers, this photo includes the vineyards of many Premier Crus. In the immediate foreground, is, as mentioned, Belissand. Beyond that is Les Avaux and Champs Pimont. To the right is Les Renversées, Le Clos de la Mousse, Les Seure, La Mignotte, Les Teurons, Aux Cras and Aux Coucherias. To the left is Les Tuvilains, Clos Landry, Pertuisots and Les Aigrots. In the wide version of this photograph, to the right, the tall spire of Domaine Albert Morot can be seen.

Interestingly, as I was photographing this scene, I saw a great number of people cycling through the vineyards. A little post-visit research revealed that where I was standing was just meters away from the start of The Vineyard Trail Beaune Santenay, a 22 km (14 mile) cycle path that runs through some of Burgundy’s most famous wine villages and prestigious vineyards: Beaune, Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet and Santenay. If you have ever taken this popular dream ride between dry-stone walls and famous vineyards, you would have started your ride exactly where this photo was taken. The stone pillars at the route’s entrance that are inscribed with “PORTE DES AVAUX VELOROUTE LA VOIE DES VIGNES” are to the right and just out of frame.

Photo Information: A very high-resolution photograph taken at the Belissand (often spelled Bélissand) Premier Cru vineyard, located in the Beaune appellation of the Côte de Beaune subregion in Burgundy, France. It is situated on the gentle lower slopes of the Côte d'Or, just south of the town of Beaune, on the route towards Pommard.

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