Côte de Nuits is formed on limestone from the middle Jurassic age. As its name indicates, Côte de Nuits also consists of a fairly sloping relief.

The various clay and limestone soils, the solar exposures as well as the climate conditions resulting from the formation of small valleys perpendicular to the fault line, all work to give a very fragmented AOC classification system.

The vineyards of Côte de Nuits are spread throughout 8 villages, from Dijon to Corgoloin, with 3000 hectares under production. The red wines represent 92% of production and are made up of Pinot Noir. The white wines, produced from Chardonnay, represent only 8% of production.