Definition: UNESCO Chair in Wine and Culture

The UNESCO Chair (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) is an international network of partners, particularly higher education institutions, which propose a joint project on an issue that can support UNESCO's priority programmes. Scientific and Cultural Organisation) is an international network of partners, particularly higher education institutions, which propose a joint project on an issue that supports UNESCO's priority programmes, such as the dissemination of cultural education, equal opportunities, the environment and sustainable development, and peace and governance.

It therefore seemed only natural that this unique chair should be established in Burgundy, and more specifically in Dijon.
Located in the heart of a renowned French wine-growing region, the University of Burgundy is one of the few universities in the world to own an AOC vineyard in Marsannay-la-Côte.
This UNESCO Chair is the fourteenth in France and the only one in the world to focus on wine. Within the University of Burgundy, the Chair is attached to the Jules Guyot University Institute of Vine and Wine. Its holder is Jocelyne Pérard, a climatologist. At the national level, the chair is supported by a partnership that includes the University of Reims Champagne-Ardennes, the University of Franche-Comté in Besançon, Jean Moulin University (Lyon III), the National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), and other institutional, professional and cultural partners. Internationally, the chair brings together several higher education institutions in Europe, South Africa, Argentina, Australia, Chile, China and the United States.
Below are the wine-growing sites listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites for the universal value of their cultural landscapes (100% wine-growing and in order of listing):
. Portovenere, Cinque Terre and the Islands (Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto), Italy - 1997,
. Jurisdiction of Saint Emilion, France - 1999,
. Wachau Cultural Landscape, Austria - 2000,
. Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes, France - 2000
. Upper Douro Wine Region, Portugal - 2001,
. Historic Cultural Landscape of the Tokaj Wine Region, Hungary - 2002,
. Middle Rhine Valley, Germany - 2002
. Wine-growing landscape of the island of Pico, Azores, Portugal - 2004
. Lavaux, terraced vineyards, Switzerland - 2007.
All information is available on the official website: