Burgundy Discovery Wine
Tour
For nearly two thousand
years the great vineyards of Burgundy have enhanced the prestige of the
Côte-d'Or. Chateaux, churches and cloisters are lining the “Champs-Élysées” of
renowned wines. Your trip in the North of France will also lead you through
picturesque villages, wine and hiking trails.
DAY 1
Paris - Paris
Airport transfer to your accommodation by
private chauffeur
A private chauffeur will pick you up at the
airport and drive you safely to your accommodation.
Night and breakfast in a charming Guesthouse in
the center of Paris near Opera
DAY 2
Paris - Beaune
Pick Up of your Rental Car at the Airport
At your arrival at the airport a rental car of
category G automatic (renault Megane or similar) will be at your disposal.
Thus, you can move around freely and comfortably. On the day of departure you
will drop off the vehicle at the airport.
Inclusive: airport charge, insurances (CDW,
THF), LAF, without mileage limitation.
The charges for optional accessory are to be
paid on-site : Additional driver, young driver extra charge - 25 years, GPS,
One way.
Overnight stay in an authentic guesthouse run by
local wine growers
DAY 3
Meursault - Beaune - Nuits-Saint-Georges
Suggestion: Guided Visit and Wine Tasting at the
Chateau de Meursault
The Chateau de Meursault opens its gates for
strolls through its beautiful park and tastings of grand crus produced on its
vineyards by the monks since as early as the 12th century.
You will enjoy a guided visit through the
cellars followed by a sampling of Grands Terroirs (tasting of 9 different
wines, 5 red and 4 white).
Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Suggestion: visit of Beaune and
Nuits-Saint-Georges
Beaune is regarded as the wine capital of
Burgundy. You can visit the cellars, the Basilica Notre-Dame from the
12thcentury and its well-preserved cultural treasure, the Hospices de Beaune
(Hôtel-Dieu). The former charitable almshouse was founded in 1443 and built in
the sumptuous Gothic style of the late Middle-Ages. With its rich selection of
paintings, sculptures, tapestry and apothecary gear, it gives you a great
insight into the past. The polychrome enameled tiled terracotta roofs of the
courtyard are a true masterpiece.
The Hospices de Beaune own a sixty-hectare large
wine estate, most of its parcels are situated in vineyards producing
appellations of premier cru and exceptional grand crus. Since 1794, the 41
prestige vintage wines are sold by auction under the name vente des hospices de
Beaune.
For 500 years the entire profit has solely
served charitable purposes for the financing of hospitals, medical research and
care of the elderly. Not to be missed, near Beaune, in the commune of
Vauchignon, the “Cirque du Bout du monde” (cirque of the end of the world)
offers a natural site of stunning beauty. In thousands of years, the river
Cozanne has dug rocky slopes into the lime rocks, an impressing water fall
gushes from one of the rocks.
On your way back you might want to stop for a
bite to eat and a taste of wine in the historic town of
Nuits-Saint-Georges.Vestiges of an ancient settlement give evidence of a
Gallo-Roman occupation. Its most famous appellation wine is the Nuits-Saint-Georges
of the same name.
Overnight stay in an authentic guesthouse run by
local wine growers
DAY 4
Dijon - Nuits-Saint-Georges - Beaune
Suggestion: Half-day Tour: discover the
beautiful Town of Beaune and its Wineries
Departure from Dijon to Beaune by car.
Beaune is regarded as the wine capital of
Burgundy. Among its highlights are the wine cellars, the Basilica Notre-Dame
from the 12th century and the hospices of Beaune, a former charity almshouse
built in 1443 as a hospital for the poor. It features a stunning collection of
art and culture treasures such as paintings, sculptures, carpets and apothecary
gear offering a fascinating insight into history. The colorful roofs made of
terracotta of the court of honor are a veritable masterwork.
The former almshouse possesses a vineyard area
of 60 ha producing essentially French quality wines and grand cru. Since 1764
41 Cuvees de Prestige are sold by auction, the profit is solely used for the
financing of hospitals, care of the elderly and medical research.
You will also visit some delicatessen shops and
taste local specialties.
After the visit of the town, you will take a
walk through the wineries, and then return to Dijon.
This is a perfect activity for gourmets and wine
lovers!
Duration: 5 hours.
Suggestion: Visit of a Blackcurrant Distillery
and Tasting
Although Burgundy is usually associated with its
famous wines, it also conceals quite a few other delicacies, such as fine
blackcurrant liquors. Jean-Michel will be very happy to welcome you in his
distillery, situated in Nuits-Saint-Georges (near Dijon). In a playful and
interactive manner, he will introduce you to the secrets of blackcurrant liquor
manufacturing.
A feast for the senses: first you will watch him
do, then you can start mixing, smelling and tasting! During the guided tour
through the distillery, you will learn about the production techniques of the
renowned crème de cassis, mixed with white wine, one of the Frances most
popular aperitif drinks, known under the name of Kir.
To finish your visit in style, you will sample a
choice of various different fruit creams, liquors and syrups.
Duration: around 2 hours.
Overnight stay in an authentic guesthouse run by
local wine growers
DAY 5
Beaune - Vougeot - Saint-Nicolas-lès-Cîteaux
Suggestion: Wine Tasting Class
Valeria is an enology teacher and organizes wine
tasting classes teaching your how to appreciate grands crus.
In the warm atmosphere of a wine bar in Beaune,
your enology teacher will prepare a selection of wines from Burgundy and other
regions. In her workshops, she proposes the following themes:
-Introduction with methodical approach. Tasting
experience and pleasure, is the wine balanced (acidity, bitterness, tannins)?
Identification exercises (look, smell, taste), rounded off with a tasting of
three grands crus, paired with a plate of fine cheeses and cold cuts.
-Evaluation of the aromas. Introduction to the
perception of natural aromas in order to develop your olfaction and gustatory
senses and learn how to put words on what you feel. In a playful way you will
assign memories, images and vocabulary to the wine. Your workshop will end in
style with a tasting of four grands crus (wine from Burgundy and other
regions), accompanied by a plate of fine cheeses and cold cuts.
-Detect a wine fault. Introduction to the
particularities and qualities of a wine. In order to distinguish a good wine
from a bad one, you must learn how to detect the faults. On the basis of a
comparison between a labeled great vintage wine and three modified wines, you
will learn how to detect the major faults in enology. At the end of your
course, you will taste three grands crus, paired with a plate of fine cheeses
and cold cuts.
Duration: around 2 hours.
Suggestion: Exploration of Vougeot (2km),
Vosne-Romanée (4km) and Saint-Nicolas-lès-Cîteaux (11km)
Within a distance of only two kilometers, you
can easily reach the Château du Clos de Vougeot (designed historical monument).
As early as in the 12thcentury, the monks of the Cîteaux Abbey built a
cooperage and a cellar with attached bedrooms, in the 16th century the mansion
was added and erected in the style of the Renaissance.
The present owner, the “confrérie des chevaliers
du tastevin” (“Fraternity of Knights of the Wine-Tasting Cup") receive
their members (renowned winegrowers and celebrities) in a splendid setting to
celebrate table and wine culture.
You will then continue in the direction of the
wine-growing commune of Vosne-Romanée along the Route des Grands Crus and the
renowned vineyards of the Côte de Nuits, producing world-famous wines such as
the appellations Vosne-Romanée, La-Grande-Rue, La-Tâche, Richebourg,
La-Romanée, Romanée-Saint-Vivant. Among these vintages, the selected Burgundy
wine Romanée-Conti (the rarest, most expensive and – usually - best wine of the
world), made of the grape variety Pinot Noir, of which only 6000 bottles per
year come onto the market.
You may want to round off your excursion with a
visit of the Cîteaux Abbey in Saint-Nicolas-lès-Cîteaux, the cradle of the
Cistercien Order, built 1098 in the Gothic style.The residents, a community of
35 monks, still obey the strict rules of asceticism, respect ofliturgy,
solitude and work; furthermore they produce a delicious organic cheese!
A spiritual and cultural round tour offers an
insight into the life of the monastery and the tradition of the Cisterciens. It
will lead you through the library, the cloister of the scribes, as well as to
an exhibition showing the developing and the management of the territory by the
monks over the centuries.
Overnight stay in an authentic guesthouse run by
local wine growers
DAY 6
Dijon - Cluny
Suggestion: Exclusive Wine Tasting Tour
Your guide Nicholas is a wine expert, he will
pick you up in Dijon for a tour through various renowned domains such as
Marsannay la Côte, Fixin and Gevrey Chambertin where he will let you in on the
specific wine production methods of each vineyard.
To end your tour in style, you will be served a
tasting of homegrown grand cru (Burgundy and Pinot Noir) paired with cheese and
chocolate.
After the tasting, Nicholas will take you for a
walk through the the winery. Soak up the lush green scenery!
Duration: 3 hours.
Suggestion: Free Visit of Dijon and the villages
lining the “Route des Grands Crus”
Take a stroll through the well-preserved
historic center of Dijon and immerse yourself in the town’s medieval past.
Wander along the picturesque alleys lined by neat fairy-tale half-timbered
houses, as well as impressive townhouses, and do not forget to make a detour to
the Cathedral Saint-Bénigne, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture.
A veritable treasure chamber is the estate of
the Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy assembling several remarkably
well-preserved historical buildings from the 14th, 15th and 17th century. The
Tour Philippe du bon is a former watch out overlooking the whole city, dare a
climb and enjoy the view! The palace also houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts, one
of the most exceptional museums in France.
You may want to get a bite to eat and a taste of
wine in one of the many pretty villages lining the most prestigious vineyards
alongside the Route des Grands Crus, among them Couchey, Brochon,
Gevrey-Chambertin or Chambolle-Musigny…
Night and breakfast in a charming Guesthouse in
Cluny
DAY 7
Pernand Vergelesses - La Truchère - Cluny
Suggestion: Hiking (Le Tour de la Butte de
Corton)
Within a twenty-minute distance from your
Chateau, you will reach a small and easy loop trail with starting point in
Prernand Vergelesses, a beautiful village, producing fruity mellow white wines
and red wines with the scent of blueberries.
To discover: red and white vintage wines, the
view points overlooking Pernand Vergelesses and the site la Vierge "Sous
Frétille" with its splendid panorama of the Côte de Beaune. You can reach
the hiking trail (with yellow marks on walls, trees and ground) through the
Route départementale D18, right after the roundabout. Starting point is the
parking lot, situated at the lower part of the village.
Suggestion: Guided boat cruise on the river
Saône
During your afternoon you will embark on a boat,
to cruise on the beautiful river Saône. the departure starts at the city of La
Truchère located near Mâcon. You will have a guided tour of the dam,
mechanically controlled since 2009. Then you will return via the lock gate,
followed by a navigation of the river Seille, before returning to the nautical
base.
Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Night and breakfast in a charming Guesthouse in
Cluny
DAY 8
Mâcon - Chasselas - Cluny
Suggestion : discover Mâcon's wine routes
For the rest of your day, visit the south
Burgundy Mâconnais and Beaujolais wine route that will take you on a voyage of
discovery through cellars and vaults where you will have the opportunity to
taste our exquisite red and white wines.
Make the most of your free day to discover at
the foot of the Roche de Solutré and the Roche de Vergisson, Pouilly-Fuissé,
the most prestigious vineyard in the Mâcon area.
Stretching over the communes of Fuissé,
Solutré-Pouilly, Vergisson and Chaintré, this vineyard has achieved
international renown. Its wine’s crisp, lively, complex flavour is aged in oak
casks, thus acquiring hints of grilled almonds or hazelnut.
Suggestion : Wine Tour in the castle
"Château de Chasselas"
The Château de Chasselas, a 12 hectare wine
estate located in southern Burgundy,
is a veritable architectural treasure built
between the 14th and 18th centuries.
The tour lasts around an hour and proceeds as
follows: word of welcome in “Le Clos” at the Château entrance and general
introduction to the Estate, update on the work currently being carried out in the
vineyard.
Then we move on to the Château’s Cour d’Honneur
(main courtyard) for a brief overview of the Château’s history. Next is the
tour of the vat room and our vaulted cellar. This is where the wine is made and
aged. Lastly, we will sample wines from the Estate (we taste at least 3
different wines) in our new wine-tasting and wine sales facility.
Duration: around 1 hour.
Night and breakfast in a charming Guesthouse in
Cluny
DAY 9
Cluny
Suggestion: Visit of the Cluny Abbey and Roche
du Solutré
We recommend a visit of the Cluny Abbey, one of
the most influential religious centers of the Middle Ages and once the largest
place of worship of Christianity.
You may want to take a side trip to “Roche de
Solutré”, a unique geological and biological natural wonder. Impressive
prehistoric vestiges were found on this site.The rock is easily accessible.
Night and breakfast in a charming Guesthouse in
Cluny
Day 10
Paris - Paris
Trip back to Paris.
You will drop off your car with your car rental
company.
Night and breakfast in a charming Guesthouse in
the center of Paris near Opera
DAY 11
Airport Transfer with a private Chauffeur