Burgundy Wine Tour
Renowned throughout the world for its venerable wines, a Burgundy wine tour is an essential destination for those who appreciate the finer aspects of the winemaker’s art. This is a region where you can visit some of the oldest and most prestigious vineyards in the world and taste wines that are regularly regarded as the best France has to offer (which is saying something). As one of the richest regions of France for hundreds of years, Burgundy also offers a wealth of history and culture as well as beautiful landscapes that offer the adventurous visitor plenty of stuff to do, even if it’s just a walk to admire the scenery.
Our first premium wine tour of Burgundy saw us checking in to the newly renovated boutique hotel of famous negociant Olivier Leflaive, with a wonderful dinner at the hotel accompanied by a range of Leflaive wines. But even before we reached our base for the four days, we took our first wine tour and tasting at a winery in Côte Chalonnaise. Things were looking up!
The second day of the tour took us to Pommard for a tour and tasting at a family-owned winery, followed by a most delicious lunch at a 1 Michelin Star restaurant in the village of Meursault. Having visited a winery that specialised in red wines in the morning, our afternoon tour and tasting took us to a winery that specialised in predominantly white wines from various appellations. And with a third day of wine tasting, winery tours and more superb French gastronomy in the northern part of the Cote D’Or, we were utterly spoilt!
If you love markets, culture and a little bit (or quite a lot!) of history, then a visit to Beaune is a must during a visit to Burgundy. Beaune, the beautiful walled town at the centre of the wine producing region, is home to the Hospices de Beaune, and well worth a tour. Dating from the 11th century, this Unesco structure is adorned with a multi-colored tile roof and provides a glimpse into the daily life of the sisters who nursed and cooked for thousands of poor and sick throughout the centuries.
Following our tour of the Hospices de Beaune, we had time to meander through the hustle and bustle of the town’s Saturday market, full of stalls selling artisan cheese, meats and local food, colourful fruit and vegetables and clothing. The market is the major event of the week, spreading from the Halles – covered market – to the pedestrianised area beside the Hospices de Beaune. A great experience for all!
Burgundy offers over 30 Michelin-starred restaurants throughout the region and we were fortunate enough to not only experience the wide range of rich and delicious wines that the region has to offer, but dine in some spectacular restaurants throughout our time there.
The final highlight of the Burgundy wine tour that must be mentioned was a visit to the Dijon and the Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie et du Vin which opened in May 2022. This was an experience that should not be missed if you’re ever in Dijon, and one I will most definitely be doing again when I’m next back here!
