It has been a truism for a while that there’s no more vineyard land to be had in Burgundy. However several new initiatives suggest that a few more hectares may become available for certain appellations. There is a plan to promote 80ha of Bourgogne vines in Couchey, Marsannay and Chenove to AOC Marsannay and a further 12ha to Marsannay Rosé. In fact there is one vineyard, Bourgogne Le Chapitre, which could well be a candidate for Marsannay 1er Cru in due course.
Further south there are plans to recover 11ha from wasteland in the lieux dits Dessus des Marconnets and Les Montbatois to classify them as Côte de Beaune, while 13ha may eb be added to St-Romain and 10ha to Pernand-Vergelesses.
There are also discussions beginning in the Yonne to add substantially to the Chablis appellation, on a very much larger scale. It is early days yet but battle lines are being drawn up between the expansionists who want to be able to supply the mass markets which recent short crops have threatened, and want high volumes at low prices to do so, and the classicists who want to maintain and enhance the quality reputation of Chablis, which would support a sustainable long-term price. The last Chablis civil war ended in 1978, but tempers may be about to flare again.
And then there is the underperforming great land that needs to be taken over by serious growers. I would be curious to hear what volume, from Bourgogne rouge and up, could be added to what we call quality wine. I am guessing 50 to 75 % depending on appelation, with the lowest appelstion where there is the greatest underperformance.