What does burgundy mean?
Burgundy has two closely related lives in English: as a proper-noun wine term and as a common-noun colour name. As a noun, it denotes wine produced in the Burgundy region of eastern France, an area famed for Pinot Noir reds and Chardonnay whites whose reputation for quality dates back centuries. By extension — and increasingly as a simple lowercase word in fashion, design, and interiors — burgundy names a deep, dusky reddish-purple reminiscent of red Burgundy wine. The colour sense carries connotations of richness, warmth, and understated luxury, which is why it appears so often in descriptions of clothing, leather goods, lipstick, and upholstery. Used figuratively or descriptively, the word is entirely standard in both British and American English, and it sits comfortably in formal and casual registers alike. Because it names something specific yet evokes a whole aesthetic of refinement, burgundy remains one of those rare words that works equally well on a wine list and in a paint catalogue, giving writers a precise, evocative shorthand for a distinctive shade of dark red.
A wine made in the Burgundy region of eastern France, traditionally from Pinot Noir (red) or Chardonnay (white) grapes.
"They opened a fine old Burgundy to mark the occasion."
Capitalized when referring strictly to wines from the French region; under EU rules, only such wines may be sold as 'Burgundy' within Europe.
A deep, rich shade of reddish-purple resembling red Burgundy wine.
"The armchairs were upholstered in burgundy leather."
Usually written lowercase when naming the colour; often modified by words like deep, dark, or rich.
Used chiefly of wines — e.g. different bottles or vintages from Burgundy — rather than of the colour.
"The cellar held an impressive range of Burgundies from the 1990s."
True Burgundy can only come from one small corner of France — everywhere else, it's just a colour.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of burgundy
Burgundy takes its name from the historical region of Burgundy (French Bourgogne) in east-central France, which itself derives from the Burgundians, a Germanic people who settled there in the early Middle Ages after originating around the Baltic. English adopted the place name in medieval times and began applying it to the region's celebrated wines, with the wine sense established by at least the 16th century. The colour meaning developed later, by extension from the appearance of red Burgundy wine, probably in the 19th century. Cognate forms include French Bourgogne and Burgundian, all tracing back to the same Germanic tribal name.
How burgundy is actually used
When capitalized and used of the wine, "Burgundy" refers specifically to wines from the French region; lowercase "burgundy" commonly denotes the colour. In everyday speech, the word is neutral in register.
Easily confused with burgundy
Bordeaux is a red or white wine from the Bordeaux region of southwestern France, whereas Burgundy is a red or white wine from the Burgundy region of eastern France; the two regions use different grape varieties.