Burgundy is one of the world’s most famous wine regions and certainly one of the most complicated!  Using the medieval town of Beaune as our hub, we head out each day to explore famous vineyards such as Gevrey-Chambertin, Puligny-Montrachet, Meursault and Nuits-St-Georges.  Each day a non-wine parallel program is offered.  This is merely one of these wine and culture-packed days.

Steaming café au lait and full buffet breakfast on the terrace of our hotel looking up at the Renaissance architecture all around the courtyard.

The Gauls founded Beaune in the 6th century BCE and were soon followed by the Romans whose protective town wall can still be seen in the wine cellars of the Drouhin family.  The monks started planting vines in the 8th century and it was their viticultural know-how that transformed the region into what it is today.  The Clos de Vougeot stands as one of the Cistercian monks’ finest wine statements and the glorious Hospice de Beaune still reaps the benefits of religious fervor and wine know-how right up until the present day.

Wine Aficionados (WA) to the nearby village of St-Romain for a look at the fascinating barrel-making procedure at François Frères.  Personalized visit with our Hearing Helper System allowing everything to be heard perfectly despite the machinery noise.

Non-Wine Aficionados (NWA) to the Hospices de Beaune for a private guided visit with art historian, Athlyn Fitz-James.

WA and NWA rendezvous for a private visit at the prestigious estate of Domaine Prieur in Meursault where Martin leads a tasting culminating with his Grand Cru Le Montrachet. 

Martin and his wife, Josephine join us for lunch matching their wines with the culinary delights of chef Laurent Parra.  If the weather is fine, then we’ll dine in the flowered park.  If not, then in the Billiard Room.

Those of the WA group who wish can enjoy a tasting of 6 Grand Cru Clos de Vougeots with wine-making legend, Pascal Marchand.  Our private terrace overlooking the Clos de Vougeot makes all passers-by very jealous.

Many of the NWA group head back to the hotel to relax but the option is there to enjoy a gastronomic visit of the food highlights of Beaune – mustard, chocolate, bread, cheese, cassis – at the town’s finest boutiques.

Dinner at the 16th century Château de Sully with a tasting in the courtyard of the château’s Chassagne-Montrachets, a private visit of the unseen areas and then dinner with the owner, The Duchess of Magenta presiding.