Burgundy Private Wine Tour

This morning, you will start your tour in Beaune. Arrive by train, or our chauffeur can collect you and drive you to your 5-star Hotel Le Cep. After check-in, take some time to relax and get settled. You will find your welcome pack in your room, including your personalized keepsake itinerary and a hand-selected bottle of wine. Enjoy a treatment at the onsite Spa Marie de Bourgogne; we highly recommend the “Balneotherapy,” 130 water jets of variable intensity designed to simulate circulation, just the thing after a long journey. Welcome to Burgundy! This afternoon, you will kick off the wine tour with a fun, private Burgundy wine masterclass with a superb local sommelier. Depending on your group size, this will take place in a charming wine boutique in Beaune or a private salon in your hotel.

Enjoy an introduction to the complexities and history of Burgundy’s wine. After the French Revolution in 1789, the vineyards were seized from the church and aristocracy. They were then broken up into smaller holdings and further divided into smaller parcels due to new inheritance laws. A network of Négociants (brokers) emerged, and they became specialized in selling wine from tiny, very localized areas. They are still an essential part of the Burgundy wine business today. Your wine expert will guide you through Burgundy’s intricacies, providing you with a solid base for the upcoming region tour.

After an entertaining and insightful tasting, relax at your hotel or walk through the 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 exclusive welcome dinner tonight is at the Michelin-starred Le Carmin. In a bright and airy dining room with soothing, natural colors and fabrics, you will love the chic design and atmosphere. Sit back and relax while you indulge in chef Christophe Quéant’s tasting menu. Savor elegant dishes like “Croque Monsieur” style scallops, quail supreme with pumpkin gnocchi, and warm hazelnut soufflé- depending on the time of year, of course, as the chef cooks according to what’s fresh and in season. Welcome to gorgeous Beaune!

Start the day with a private tour and tasting at the iconic, family-run négociant Joseph Drouhin. Visit their beautiful cellar in the historic Duke of Burgundy’s Parliament building, built over 2,000 years ago by the Romans — here in a private setting, you will taste 6 (of their 60) fine wines.

Lunch will be light and stylish at the convivial Michelin-recommended L’Alentour bistro on Rue d’ Alsace in Beaune. Run by an international group of food and wine professionals from Canada, Zimbabwe, and Beaujolais, L’Alentour serves inspired, seasonal dishes with an international touch. Here, you will taste a range of Burgundy wines paired with local cheese, charcuterie, terrine, quiche, and small bites.

After lunch, you’ll enjoy the fresh air, explore remarkable architecture, and learn about history. You will rendezvous with your local expert guide and explore the emblematic Hospices de Beaune (also known as the Hôtel-Dieu de Beaune). It was built in the 1400s during Burgundy’s Golden Age as a spectacular, beautiful hospital for the poor. Indeed, it was a functioning hospital up until the early 1970s. Its celebrated charity wine auction has been held since 1859 and takes place each November.

Your private guide will take you through the fascinating history and the wide range of rooms and halls on site, like the old pharmacy and laboratory, the collection of Flemish tapestries, and more. After an insightful visit, enjoy a pleasant walk with your guide to your next Burgundy wine tasting at the highly esteemed Maison Champy, founded in 1720. Officially, the oldest wine business in Burgundy, this historic property is an absolute delight to visit. The founding patriarch, Edme Champy, was a barrel maker who became a négociant, selling various wines from the Côte-d’Or, and his family continued to run Maison Champy for more than 2 centuries. At present, this marvelous estate is run by French wine group AdVini (which also, interestingly, manages many wine estates in South Africa). You’ll enjoy a VIP tour of the atmospheric cellars and a tasting of their best wines.

The rest of the early evening is yours in the chocolate-box pretty Beaune. Don’t miss the Fallot Dijon mustard shop and mill while in Beaune. La Moutarderie Fallot is a historic Burgundian family business that has been trading in the original building since the 1840s. They still make their mustard with traditional stone grinders. Their “Pain d’epices” (gingerbread mustard) is astonishingly delicious! Pick up some goodies here. Check out your keepsake itinerary for local dining suggestions, and the hotel concierge will help you with any reservations.

After breakfast, you will hit the road this morning for the legendary “Route des Grands Crus” that winds through the vineyards of the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune; fine wines are in store. The first stop is at Henri de Villamont, a local wine legend. The property is exceptional, with a beautiful house and vineyard-terraced hillside. Taste both whites and reds from this excellent property.

The next appointment will be at the beautiful Domaine Comte Senard in Aloxe-Corton. First, visit their 14th-century stunning cellar before sitting down to a relaxed wine-tasting lunch of classic cooking in their bright and cheery dining room.

After lunch, the next stop is an architecturally intriguing wine château—the captivating Château de Meursault, boasting an astonishing 1,000 years of history, a claim that few estates can make! The wines produced here are mid-level and refreshing, but the object of this visit is to breathe in the history and admire the property’s beauty, as there are few like this in Burgundy. Enjoy a private tour of the magnificent Cistercian wine cellars and conclude with a Grand Terroir Tasting of their finest crus.

In the late afternoon, check in to the beautiful Château la Commaraine Hotel, Spa & Cuverie. What a magnificent treat! This newly renovated luxury hotel (a sister hotel to the terrific Royal Champagne & Spa) is one of our favorite hotels in the French wine country. Elegant, stylish, and supremely comfortable. Relax and settle in. You will sleep in a magical, working premier cru Pommard vineyard tonight! We will arrange a gastronomic dinner on-site, so you have free time to enjoy the spa.

Today, you have a later start to take advantage of the lovely grounds and start the day well rested. At 11 a.m., you will enjoy a fantastic private tour and tasting at Armand Heitz, a three-minute walk from your hotel. This place is great, and after a private tour and explanation of the estate and its history, you will visit their exceptional plot of Pommard 1er Cru Clos des Poutures Monopole. Follow with a private tasting of their prestigious and emblematic vintages, including a Grand Cru.

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 photos, and enjoy the panorama. Remarkably, the walled 50-hectare vineyard, founded in the 12th century by the monks of Cîteaux, is divided among 80 owners! The storied and much-loved Château was also built for the monks (to house them and 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 Domaine Magnien. You can taste a range of their Grands Crus and Premier Crus, such as Clos de la Roche Grand Cru, Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Cazetiers, and Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Sentiers. Enjoy!

Then head to the ancient capital of the Dukes of Burgundy—lovely Dijon—in the early evening. 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, bakeries, and many artisan mustard makers line the cobblestoned back streets. Convivial bistros and Michelin-starred gourmet shrines grace the town, and you are spoiled for choice when it comes to wining and dining. Check into your boutique hotel, La Cloche, and enjoy some free time to relax and rest.

Tonight’s dinner is a gourmet extravaganza at Two Michelin-starred l’Hostellerie du Chapeau Rouge, led by Chef William Frachot. You will feast on a personalized tasting menu, including dishes like Bream from the river Saône, pike dumplings with Aquitaine caviar, and Veal sweetbreads with Flavigny anise, all expertly paired by the restaurant sommelier.

After a delicious breakfast, meet your driver this morning and head to the leading premium estate, Les Ursulines, located in Nuits-Saint-Georges. The historic site has been beautifully transformed into a modern winery by Maison Jean-Claude Boisset. Once an 18th-century convent founded by the Ursuline nuns in 1717, the property has been thoughtfully restored to harmonize its rich heritage with contemporary winemaking. Committed to making haute-couture wines, Les Ursulines emphasizes pure, natural expressions of Burgundy’s exceptional terroirs. You will have the opportunity to taste some of their finest selections, such as their Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru and Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru.

Next, embark on another private tour and wine tasting at Domaine René Leclerc in Gevrey-Chambertin. Highly praised by Robert Parker, this small, high-end winery produces exceptional wines, such as their old-vine Rene Leclerc Clos Prieur and their cellar-worthy Premier Cru Les Lavaux-St-Jacques. You’ll taste a variety of wines and engage in a lively conversation with your effervescent hosts.

After a delightful morning of wine tasting, you’ll be ready for a relaxed and cozy lunch experience at Domaine Trapet. You’ll dine ‘table d’hôte’ style, enjoying soul-warming Boeuf Bourguignon paired with estate wines. The venue radiates charm, featuring a cozy ambiance complete with a large open fireplace, wooden-beamed ceilings, modern furnishings, and French windows that offer picturesque views of the garden.

In the afternoon, head to Marsannay for your final wine tour of the Côte d’Or at Château de Marsannay. A vertical tasting will be specially organized for you, featuring a refreshing rosé considered one of the best in France—perfect for late afternoon when your palate may be more saturated.

To conclude the day, you’ll enjoy a scenic, short drive back to Dijon in the early evening and have some free time. Dinner is at your discretion tonight, but we will provide tips on where to dine in Dijon.

Chablis is the northernmost sub-region of Burgundy and is known for its elegantly mineral-rich Chardonnays. You will visit two of the best, most sought-after wine estates: Maison Régnard and Domaine Laroche. It’s a 90-minute drive northwest to Chablis, so sit back and either rest your eyes or engage in friendly conversation with your charming chauffeur. You will arrive at your first destination, Maison Régnard, by 10:30 a.m.

The Chablis made at Maison Régnard is quite irresistible! Established in 1860 by Zéphyr Régnard, the high-end estate was purchased by Baron Patrick de Ladoucette in 1984. He respected tradition and the Régnard legacy and is credited with refining the distinctive style and character of its wines. In 1992, Baron Patrick de Ladoucette introduced Grand Régnard, a prestige cuvée showcasing the finest Chablis of each vintage, presented in a distinctive bottle inspired by 18th-century design. You’re sure to feel very welcome and learn all about the region: sample flagship wines from Chablis Grands Crus and Premiers Crus, as well as Chablis and Petit Chablis appellations.

For lunch, you’ll dine at the iconic Au Fil du Zinc, a gastronomic haven nestled among vineyards in the picturesque heart of Chablis. Housed in a 12th-century water mill, the restaurant features a dining room with exposed stone walls and original wooden beams, while the terrace offers views of the Grand Cru vineyards. Head chef Mathieu Sagardoytho will prepare a tasting menu exclusively designed for you, featuring dishes like Smoked trout, Cèpe mushrooms, figs, and beetroots; Pork seasoned with Vaudouvan (French curry), Savoy cabbage, wild mushrooms, and winkles (shellfish), all complemented by excellent wines.

After lunch, one more wine gem! Stop by the stunning Domaine Laroche, where you will be welcomed with a vineyard tour and a relaxed tasting. The winery excels in exceptional craftsmanship, producing high-quality Chardonnay wines. It seamlessly blends traditional winemaking techniques with modern innovations to create complex and elegantly balanced wines.

As you journey back to Dijon, you have two more memorable experiences. First, visit the hilltop hamlet of Vézelay, one of Burgundy’s most enchanting locales. Its Benedictine abbey, dating back to the 9th century, houses the relics of St. Mary Magdalene and is situated along the pilgrim’s route. The basilica is exquisite and is a UNESCO-protected site. You’ll have some free time here to explore the charming local shops or perhaps take a guided mini-tour of the abbey’s historic art (optional).

Before returning to Dijon, another highlight awaits: a balloon ride over the peaceful countryside and crisscrossed vineyards. Upon landing, celebrate with a toast of bubbly—a truly thrilling experience! The evening is yours to relish. Choose to dine at our recommended gourmet restaurants in Dijon or enjoy an optional evening activity such as a nightcap wine tasting.

This morning, you have a fun culinary treat in store: a private guided food, wine, and history tour of Dijon! Kick off the day with a tour of the 19th-century Les Halles, inspired by plans proposed by the Eiffel company in 1868 and built from 1873 to 1875 to the designs of engineer Louis-Clément Weinberger. The displays of fresh produce are incredible, and the aromas of pungent cheeses, ripe fruits, and freshly baked bread will have you salivating. Enjoy some food tastings and, of course, wines on a convivial walk through the market and Dijon’s gourmet shops. Your guide is also a local art historian and will show you the best of what Dijon has to offer history lovers.

A visit to the Burgundy Museum—choose between the Musée de la Vie bourguignonne and the Musée des Beaux-Arts—is fascinating. Your guide will regale you with amusing anecdotes and intriguing historical facts unique to the region. 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.

Next, your 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 will be a relaxed and cozy affair at the 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.

This morning (or afternoon, check out is at noon), at your preferred time, your chauffeur will transfer you to your next port of call, such as the Dijon train station. We hope you had the time of your life on this enchanting journey through the Burgundian wine country!