Below are what I think are the best Burgundy wine books. If you only buy one, buy Inside Burgundy.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy through a link on this page, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Ten Second Summary
- Best all-rounder: Inside Burgundy by Jasper Morris MW. About 800 pages on 1,200+ vineyards and 700 domaines.
- Most up to date: The Complete Burgundy by Benjamin Lewin MW. 500 top producers, updated regularly.
- Best for vintages: Burgundy Vintages: A History from 1845 by Allen Meadows and Doug Barzelay.
- Most beautiful: Grand Cru by Remington Norman. The great vineyards, with lovely photography.
- Best story: Shadows in the Vineyard, the true story of the plot to poison Romanée-Conti.
Want the wines, not the books? Start with a really good red Burgundy or a really good white Burgundy.
The 6 best Burgundy wine books
1) Inside Burgundy (2nd edition) – Jasper Morris MW, 2021
If you buy one Burgundy book, make it this one. Jasper Morris MW was Burgundy Director at Berry Bros. & Rudd from 2003 to 2017, and the second edition covers more than 1,200 vineyards, 300 villages and 700 domaines across about 800 pages, with 45 colour maps.
It’s a reference book, not a cover-to-cover read. Look up the village and producer before you open a bottle and you’ll understand what’s in your glass. It also gives proper space to Burgundy’s better-value corners: Chablis, the Hautes-Côtes, the Côte Chalonnaise and the Mâconnais.
Best for: anyone serious about Burgundy, and WSET Diploma or MW students.
Check the price of Inside Burgundy on Amazon
2) The Complete Burgundy – Benjamin Lewin MW
Benjamin Lewin MW updates his Burgundy guide regularly, which makes it the most current book on this list. Part one covers the geography and character of Burgundy’s appellations. Part two profiles 500 of the top producers, and how each one shapes the wines of its village.
Earlier editions were called Burgundy: Complete, with the year in the title. Make sure you buy the latest.
Best for: checking up on a producer before you buy a bottle.
Check the price of The Complete Burgundy on Amazon
3) Burgundy Vintages: A History from 1845 – Allen Meadows & Doug Barzelay, 2018
Allen Meadows (better known as Burghound) and Doug Barzelay work through Burgundy vintage by vintage, all the way back to 1845. At 583 pages it’s packed with information, and the history is the real treasure.
It isn’t sold on Amazon, but you can buy it direct from the publisher.
Best for: collectors, and anyone about to open an old bottle who wants to know what the year was like.
Buy Burgundy Vintages from Burghound Books
4) Grand Cru – Remington Norman, 2010
Grand Cru: The Great Wines of Burgundy Through the Perspective of Its Finest Vineyards is beautifully written and full of lovely photos. Former Master of Wine Remington Norman takes Burgundy’s grand cru vineyards one by one, with a foreword by Aubert de Villaine of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.
It was published in 2010, so treat the producer notes as history. The vineyards haven’t moved.
Best for: a gift, or the coffee table of any Burgundy lover.
Check the price of Grand Cru on Amazon
5) Shadows in the Vineyard – Maximillian Potter, 2014
The true story of the 2010 plot to poison the vines of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti unless the domaine paid a €1 million ransom. Potter uses the crime to tell the bigger story of DRC, and of Burgundy’s deep reverence for its land, going back to the medieval Cistercian monks.
Best for: a holiday read, or a gift for someone who loves wine but doesn’t want a textbook.
Check the price of Shadows in the Vineyard on Amazon
6) Côte d’Or (2nd edition) – Raymond Blake, 2025
The newest book on this list, published by Académie du Vin Library in 2025. Raymond Blake covers the history, terroir, climate and culture of the Côte d’Or, and profiles 100 producers across 328 pages.
Best for: a current, single-volume guide to the heart of Burgundy, from Gevrey-Chambertin to Puligny-Montrachet.
Check the price of Côte d’Or on Amazon
Burgundy wine books FAQ
What is the best book about Burgundy wine?
The best book about Burgundy wine is Inside Burgundy (2nd edition) by Jasper Morris MW. It covers more than 1,200 vineyards and 700 producers, with 45 colour maps.
What is the best Burgundy book for beginners?
The best Burgundy book for beginners is Shadows in the Vineyard. It’s a page-turner that shows why Burgundy matters. When you want a reference, move on to Benjamin Lewin’s The Complete Burgundy or Inside Burgundy.
Which Burgundy books are best for WSET or MW study?
Inside Burgundy for depth on villages, vineyards and producers, plus Benjamin Lewin’s The Complete Burgundy for current producer information.
Which Burgundy wine is considered the best?
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti’s La Romanée-Conti is widely considered the greatest, and most expensive, Burgundy. For bottles worth trying that won’t need a second mortgage, see my guide to a really good red Burgundy.
Remember ... life is short, drink better. Drink the best. Discover more of the world’s best wines.