Some Climats refer to the combes, the deep or wide valleys carved out by melting glaciers over 20,000 years ago. This is the case, for example, of Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru, Les Combettes, Mercurey Premier Cru, Les Combins...
Others refer to the nature of the soils whether through the notion of "perrières" which applies particularly to parcels located near old stone tracks. Other names such as "Les Crais" and "Les Chailles" also refer to the abundance of stone on certain plots.
Vegetation, and vines in particular, also feature prominently in the names of the climats. This is true of juniper, which thrives particularly well in the limestone soils of Burgundy. In Meursault, the Climat Genevrières comprises several lieux-dits,including the parcels Les Genevrières Dessus and Les Genevrières Dessous.
As for the vines, the young plantations were originally named "plantes" (plants), giving rise to climats such as Les Plantelles in the commune of Couchey.
Of course, the architectural heritage inspires many climats. Whether it's the buildings, with all the variations on the name « chazal » which designates the agricultural estate with its buildings, such as Aux Cheusots or Echézeaux, for example, or the roads, the best example being the place known as La Romanée in Chassagne-Montrachet, situated on the edge of the Roman road.
Climates also bear witness to the prestigious owners who have occupied these lands, as they once marked the boundaries of the estates of lords, Dukes of Burgundy or Kings of France. Such is the case of Clos de Vougeot, a Climat made famous by the monks of the Abbey of Cîteaux.
But the climats also tell the story of the men and women who have worked the vines for over 2000 years.This is the case of La Corvée , which refers to the days of free and compulsory labour that vassals owed their lord to carry out important seasonal tasks such as harvesting.
