Burgundy with its Côte d’Or is hoping for recognition as world cultural heritage

The appliance emphasizes the unique landscape, climate and the terroir of the wine region. Clos de Bèze, one of the most renounced and oldest wine growing areas in the world, where wine has been being cultivated since as early as the 7th century, is mentioned explicitly; Côte des Nuits and Côtes de Beaune, two wine growing areas, are mentioned, too. The appliance covers a total of about 50 square kilometers and 1,247 single climates.

None other than Auber de Villaine, owner and director of the Domaine de la Romanée Conti, is the driving force of the campaign. Aubert de Villaine proposed to mention not only the famous Burgundy vineyards in the appliance but as well the 25,000-year old cave paintings in the grotto of Chauvet Ornée Pont d’Arc in order to ensure a higher acceptance by the UNESCO bodies.

People in Burgundy are hoping for an increase of tourism by at least 30 percent as soon as the region has been recognized as world cultural heritage. France’s and other nations’ motivation to apply for the assignment of the attribute “world cultural heritage” is not only to vitalize tourism in the region but to ensure much safer economic activities under the protection of the UNESCO. So far, there are 37 places and regions in France on the UNESCO list, among them, Saint Emilion, another wine growing area. As early as in 2010, the French cuisine as embodiment of France’s cultural heritage achieved to be added to the UNESCO list of world cultural heritages.

However, in 2009, France’s appliance to recognize the Champagne region, a worldwide known wine growing area, as world cultural heritage, remained unsuccessful; a new appliance for the Champagne region is being prepared. Now, Italy has, in parallel to Burgundy, applied to add the Prosecco region to the UNESCO list. The UNESCO decision about Burgundy and Prosecco will remain unanswered until July, 2013, because the appliance has to be followed by 18 months of consultations. (red.yoopress)