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Chambertin [shahm-behr-TAN] is a Grand Cru vineyard located in the village of Gevrey-Chambertin in the Côte de Nuits district of France's Burgundy wine region. It is neighboured by eight other Grand Cru vineyards in the same village whose names also include "Chambertin": Chambertin-Clos de Bèze, Charmes-Chambertin, Chapelle-Chambertin, Griotte-Chambertin, Latricières-Chambertin, Mazis-Chambertin, Mazoyères-Chambertin and Ruchottes-Chambertin. Each of these nine Grand Cru vineyards form a separate Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC). These appellations may only be used for red wine from Pinot Noir. In similar to other red Burgundy, the wines may theoretically include up to 15% of the white grapes Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris, but today, this practice is extremely uncommon at the Grand Cru level.

Overview of the vineyards

All these Grand Cru vineyards form a continuous area which roughly forms a rectangle by in size, situated just south of the village Gevrey-Chambertin. In three of the vineyards, the producers are free too choose between two Grand Cru appellations.

Grand Cru	May also be called	Vineyard surface (2004)
Chambertin
Chambertin-Clos de Bèze	Chambertin
Charmes-Chambertin	(Mazoyères-Chambertin)
Mazoyères-Chambertin	Charmes-Chambertin
Chapelle-Chambertin
Griotte-Chambertin
Latricières-Chambertin
Mazis-Chambertin
Ruchottes-Chambertin

Individual vineyards

Chambertin

This 32-acre pinot noir vineyard adjoins a 38-acre parcel called Clos de Bèze, which is also a grand cru vineyard and whose wine may use Chambertin Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) or Chambertin-Clos de Bèze AOC designation on their labels. Chambertin may not be called Chambertin-Clos de Bèze, however. The Clos de Bèze vineyard was initially cleared and planted back in the 7th century by monks from the Abbey of Bèze, which owned the land. Legend has it that it was not until the 12th century that Chambertin was planted by a Monsieur Bertin, who felt that he could also make good wines if he grew the same grape varieties as his famous next door neighbor. His vineyard was called Champ de Bertin ("Bertin's field") and later shortened to Chambertin.

The Chambertin wines were one of Napoleon's favorites and it is said that he insisted that they be available to him even during his various military campaigns. As with most of Burgundy's vineyards, both Chambertin and Clos de Bèze have had numerous owners, twenty-three and eighteen respectively. Unfortunately, quality varies from producer to producer and, although Chambertin has been called "King of Wines," less accomplished vintners do not make wines that live up to that reputation. The quality of wines from Clos de Bèze is considered higher and more consistent than those from Chambertin. The best wines from these two vineyards are quite powerful. They have concentrated fruit flavors, intense, rich, perfumed aromas, and long aging capabilities.