A legendary wine region setting the benchmark for?Pinot Noir?and?Chardonnay?worldwide, Burgundy is a perennial favorite of many wine lovers. While the concept of ?terroir? reigns supreme here?soil type, elevation and angle of each slope?this is a region firmly rooted in tradition. Because of the Napoleonic Code requiring equal distribution of property and land among all heirs, vineyard ownership in Burgundy is extremely fragmented, with some growers responsible for just one or two rows of vines. This system has led to the predominance of the "negociant"?a merchant who purchases fruit from many different growers to vinify and bottle together.