Burgundy Gourmet Wine Tour

Your guide will pick you up after breakfast. You drive a short ways northwards, into the heart of the Pinot Noir Grand Crus. Your guide stops often, teaching you about the unique Burgundian appellations, showing you what is happening in the vineyards, and explaining how to understand a wine label. You’ll visit the 15th century Clos de Vougeot, as well as stop to give proper homage to the most renowned (and expensive!) vineyard of them all, the Romanee Conti. Lunch awaits you in a small winery in Gevrey Chambertin; along with the delicious regional meal, you will taste and compare 8 different wines, including several Grand Crus!

After lunch, head up into the Hautes Cotes, where you visit an artisanal fruit producer. Chantal and Christian grow and transform strawberries, raspberries, wild peach, and the regional cassis, or black current, into a multitude of delicious products at their farm, in their family for generations. You’ll have a visit of their production, and of course get to taste their intensely fruit-flavoured products, including the lovely cassis liqueur that is used in the regional aperitif, the KIR. Your guide will bring you back to Beaune in the afternoon, in time to relax before choosing where to have dinner, helped by our suggestions.

This morning meet up with your host for a good part of the day, a French woman who worked for years as a gourmet chef in the States before deciding to share her passion for cuisine back in Beaune. After meeting in front of one of the best cheese shops in the region, you and her other guests meander through Beaune, stopping at her favourite shops, and learning about the produce and regional specialties. Afterwards, return to her workshop, in a beautiful setting a short walk from the town’s hustle and bustle, for a morning of very hands-on cooking class. The fun is guaranteed, and it is followed by the delicious meal you have helped to prepare, accompanied by well-chosen regional wines.

You’ll have some time after the meal to enjoy Beaune itself; perhaps do a little souvenir shopping in the boutiques, or simply relax before meeting for your private tour at the end of the afternoon of the incredible Hospices de Beaune. This 15th century charity hospital, built by the Chancellor to the Dukes of Burgundy, is steeped in fascinating stories, and is THE site to see in Beaune.

Your guide picks you up again today, and takes you up into the Hautes Cotes de Nuits, above the famous vineyards. A small Chateau in the forest has started a production of the black truffle of Burgundy there. After an explanation of truffle-growing, and a demonstration of cavage (the truffle hunt, with a dog), you’ll enjoy a wonderful truffle lunch at their farm – with truffle-infused foods for every course – even dessert!

After lunch, your guide takes you to the Corton hill; this remarkable spot is the home of two famous Grand Cru vineyards, the Corton (red) and Corton Charlemagne (white). After a stop to enjoy the spectacular panorama and an explanation of the unique  terroir, you head to a winery to enjoy a wine tasting, including several of the Grand Crus you have just learned about. Back to Beaune for your final evening.