Burgundy Wine Tour

After an entertaining and insightful tasting, relax at your hotel or go for a walk through beautiful Beaune. Enclosed by a 13th-century wall, Vieux Beaune is a visual treat, with quaint narrow streets, timber façades and effortlessly charming bakeries, wine bars, and pâtisseries. Your welcome dinner tonight is at the Michelin starred Le Benaton. Savor creative cuisine and local wines in their pretty stone dining room, or in the Italian style garden courtyard weather permitting.

Some fresh air, architecture, and history will come after lunch. The emblematic Hospices de Beaune (also known as the Hôtel-Dieu de Beaune) was built in the 1400s during Burgundy’s Golden Age, as a quite spectacular jewel box beautiful hospital for the poor. Indeed, it was a functioning hospital up until the early 1970s. It holds the now mythical wine auction every November; a tradition started in the 1860s as both a way to raise money for charity for the poor and also to celebrate the new vintage from the property’s vineyards. Your guide will talk you through the fascinating history and take you through the wide range of rooms and halls onsite like the old pharmacy and laboratory, the collection of Flemish tapestries, and more. After an insightful visit, enjoy a short, pleasant walk with your guide to your next Burgundy wine tasting at the highly esteemed Bouchard Père et Fils in the gorgeous Château de Beaune.

Enroute, you might pop into the Fallot Dijon mustard shop and mill. La Moutarderie Fallot is a historic Burgundian family business, trading since the 1840s. The neat thing is the shop is in the original building, and they still make their mustard with the traditional stone grinders. Their “Pain d´epices” (gingerbread mustard) is astonishingly delicious! Pick up some goodies here. Carry on with one last fascinating private wine tour and tasting at Bouchard, and then the rest of the early evening is yours in the chocolate-box pretty Beaune.

An interesting architectural wine château visit is next at the alluring Château de Meursault. The wines made here are pleasant (not high end) and refreshing, but the object of this visit is really to breathe in the history and admire the beauty of the property, as there are few like this in Burgundy. Not many estates can claim 1,000 years of history! You will visit the magnificent Cistercian wine cellars, and finish with a Grand Terroir Tasting of their most prestigious crus.

In the late afternoon, check in to the beautiful Château de Chassagne-Montrachet, where you will have exclusive use of the Château. What a treat. Relax and settle in. You will sleep in a magical vineyard tonight! We suggest dinner in nearby Pommard at Aupres du Clocher, very popular with the locals, and with an incredible wine list.

After lunch, transfer to the captivating Château du Clos de Vougeot, where you will have some free time to wander around the vines and museum, take some photos and enjoy the panorama. The walled 50-hectare vineyard, founded in the 12th century by the monks of Citeaux, amazingly is divided up amongst 80 owners! The storied and much loved Château was also built for the monks (to house them, as well as their wine cellar and press), and is now home to the Chevaliers du Tastevin- rock stars in the wine world. Next in store is a private tour and tasting at Château de La Tour in Vougeot, whose parcel in the grand cru Clos de Vougeot is considered to be one of the very best. Enjoy!

Then head to the ancient capital of the Dukes of Burgundy- lovely Dijon – in the early evening. Check in to your boutique, primly located hotel and enjoy some free time. Lively Dijon is a beautiful cosmopolitan city with a postcard-pretty medieval core. Renaissance mansions and darling half-timbered houses make up most of the historic center. Chic shops, historic pharmacies and bakeries, and an abundance of artisan mustard makers line the cobblestoned back streets. Convivial bistros and Michelin starred gourmet meccas grace the town and you are spoiled for choice when it comes to wining and dining.

Dinner tonight is gourmet-all-the way at Two Michelin starred l’Hostellerie du Chapeau Rouge, feast on a tasting menu with wine pairings.

You will love the casual and cozy lunch, which will follow at Domaine Trapet. It will be Table d’hôte with soul-warming Boeuf Bourguignon and estate wines. This venue is so cute, with a big open fire, wood beamed ceilings, contemporary furniture and French windows overlooking the garden. After lunch, head to Marsannay for your last wine tour of the Côte d´Or at the Château de Marsannay. A vertical tasting will be organized for you, including a refreshing rosé, considered to be one of the best in France and perfect for the late afternoon when your palate will be more saturated.

In the early evening, you will enjoy the scenic short drive back to Dijon, and some free time. Dinner is on your own tonight with our tips on Dijon.

The Chablis made at Fevre is quite irresistible! And the quality of their hospitality here is renowned, you will be made to feel very welcome, and learn all about the region. Taste flagship wines and special ones like the Grand Cru Les Preuses or the Premier Cru Vaillons. Before lunch, stop at the beautiful Domaine Laroche for a relaxed tasting and a visit to the vineyard. An easy-going bistro lunch is next at Au Fil du Zinc, a classic.

On the way back to Dijon, you have two more memorable experiences. First, is a visit to the hill topped Vézelay, one of Burgundy’s most bewitching hamlets. Its Benedictine abbey dates to the 9th century and houses the relics of St Mary Magdalene, on the pilgrim’s route. The basilica is exquisite and UNESCO protected. Enjoy some free time here to explore and be inspired. Before returning to Dijon, you have a highlight of this trip next: a balloon ride over the peaceful countryside and crisscrossed vineyards. Enjoy a toast of bubbly when you land, what a thrill! The evening is yours to grab a bite at the hotel or venture out.

After lunch in the late afternoon, you will appreciate a digestive walk through lovely Dijon. You will have your certified art guide to show you the “best of.” A visit to the Burgundy museum (musée de la Bourgogne or musée des Beaux-arts) can be included and is fascinating and a very worthwhile stop. Your guide will share fun anecdotes and oddities with you. Stop and make a wish on the tiny stone owl, carved on the exterior of the beautiful Église Notre-Dame. Legend has it that good luck will come your way if you give the owl a little rub with your left hand. If you are able for it, our guide will take you up the 15th century Tour Philippe le Bon in the Palais des Ducs (just over 300 steps), and you can enjoy dramatic views over magical Dijon from the top.

Dinner tonight is a relaxed and very cozy affair at wine lovers haunt Dr. Wine. Enjoy light dishes like basil marinated shrimp with lemon cream, thyme scented roast baby lamb chops, and cherry Clafoutis, with wines from Chassagne- Montrachet, and Chambolle- Musigny.

We hope you had the time of your life on this enchanting journey through the Burgundian wine country!