Essential Bordeaux, Champagne and Burgundy Multi-Region France Wine Tour

At a glance

Trip Summary

On days two and three, you will meet your guide at a central departure point for a full day transported and guided tour through the Bordeaux vineyards. On one of the days, you visit the internationally famed left-bank Médoc and the other day, the UNESCO Classified appellation of Saint-Emilion and neighbouring Pomerol. During your tour of the Médoc, you will visit three Châteaux, learning particularly about the Cabernet Sauvignon grape and gaining an insight into what makes those big, bold reds so revered. During your visit to Saint-Emilion and Pomerol, you will discover the singularities of the softer wines, predominantly made from the Merlot grape. You will visit three Châteaux, and your guide will also take you on a walking tour of the picturesque village. During both days, you will learn all about the fascinating wine-making process from press to bottle, and each tour will conclude with a tasting of the Château’s wine. There will be a maximum of sixteen guests on the tour and each Château that you visit will be a Cru Classé estate. On one of the evenings, a three course gourmet dinner will be served in a premium city centre restaurant. Your dinner will be accompanied by three local wines.

After checking out of your hotel in Bordeaux, we will arrange for direct rail travel to Reims (with one platform change at Champagne-Ardennes station) for the second stop on your France wine tour. The journey time is around five hours and both of the hotels that we propose in Reims are within easy walking distance of the station.

The next morning, you will be met at your hotel by an English-speaking specialist driver/guide, who will accompany you throughout the day. En-route to the Champagne vineyards, your guide will regale you with tales and anecdotes of the history of Champagne and its vineyards, introducing you to the particularities of the region. You will stop in a vineyard to learn about the work undertaken here and the tour is designed to be as hands-on as possible. Here, your guide will explain the grape varieties permitted in Champagne and the yearly cycle of the work carried out in the vineyards. You will then firstly visit a small, family-run producer of Champagnes for a full tour of the fascinating Champagne making process from press to bottle, and at least three tastings. A three course lunch with a glass of wine, water and coffee will then be served in a local restaurant. In the afternoon, your guide will take you to another family-run estate, situated in another of the principle regions of Champagne. After a tour of the House, you will taste Champagnes in contrasting style to those tasted during the morning. Ending the day in style, you will then visit Champagne Moët and Chandon, Mercier or Champagne De Castellane in Epernay, for a tour of their cellars followed by a flute of their Champagne.

After a leisurely breakfast and check out, you will have the chance to visit your favourite Champagne House in Reims. Subject to your dates of travel / availability, options include Taittinger, where two Champagnes will be served, GH Mumm to taste their Blanc de Blancs and Blancs de Noirs Champagnes, Pommery to sample their Prestige Cuvée Louise, Ruinart to taste Ruinart Blanc de Blancs or Ruinart rosé followed by their flagship Prestige Cuvée Dom Ruinart, white or rosé and Veuve Clicquot, to enjoy a flute of their celebrated La Grande Dame. Walking distances to the Champagne Houses can be up to 25 minutes, therefore you may prefer to ask your hotel to arrange a taxi for you on the day. Please note that some of these Houses (particularly Veuve Clicquot and Ruinart) are very popular and offer very few tours, therefore early booking is essential.

In the afternoon of day six, you will take the train from Reims to Beaune (via Dijon) and we will of course make the necessary arrangements for you. The journey time is 4 hours 20 minutes and after settling in at your chosen hotel, you will have time to relax and explore the town.

On the morning of day seven, you will meet your English-speaking driver/guide for a full day transported and guided tour of the Burgundy vineyards. You will be transported in an off-road vehicle, allowing access to locations that are usually off-limits. You will visit both the Côte de Beaune and the Côte de Nuits, experiencing the range of wines this prestigious region has to offer.

During the first part of the tour, you will be introduced to the sources of some of the greatest Chardonnay wines- namely the famous vineyards of Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet. In addition to white wine, you will also be introduced to the Pinot Noir grape from Pommard, Volnay and Santenay. The morning will conclude with a visit to a nearby domaine in the Côte de Beaune, where the owner will take you on a full tour of the estate and beautiful vaulted cellars, explaining to you all about their wines as you taste them. In the afternoon, you will explore the Côte de Nuits, driving through the famous vineyards of Nuits-Saint-Georges, Vosne-Romanée, Vougeot, Chambolle-Musigny, Morey-Saint-Denis and Gevrey-Chambertin. Your guide will reveal to you the secrets of Burgundy wine whilst you enjoy a glass in the heart of the vineyards. Your time in the Côte de Nuits will then conclude with a visit to a second domaine, for a tour of the estate and cellars and followed by tastings of the estate’s wines. A four course gourmet dinner will be served in a premium city centre restaurant, accompanied by two half bottles of local wine, water and coffee.

After checking out of the hotel on day eight, your Grape Escapes France wine tour odyssey will conclude with a final tour and tasting session of six Burgundian wines at a local estate a short walk from the hotel.

Region Map

Outline Itinerary

Day three of your France wine tour

• In the morning, meet your English-speaking guide at a central departure point for a full day guided and transported tour of Saint-Emilion and Pomerol, visiting three Châteaux.

 Day four of your France wine tour

• After breakfast, check out of the hotel.
• Rail travel will be arranged for you from Bordeaux to Reims (via Champagne-Ardennes).
• Upon arrival, check into your chosen hotel in the city centre.
• In your travel pack will be a comprehensive list of recommended restaurants in the city centre. We would be pleased to recommend a restaurant and reserve you a table for dinner if required.

Day five of your France wine tour

• After breakfast, you will be met at the hotel by an English-speaking guide, who will accompany you throughout the day. Your tour day will comprise of:
• Tours and tastings at two small, family-run Champagne Houses.
• A three course lunch with a glass of wine, water and coffee in a local restaurant.
• A tour and a flute or two of Champagne at Moët and Chandon, Mercier or De Castellane.
• You will be taken back to the hotel at the end of the day.

Day six of your France wine tour

• After breakfast and check out, walk to your favourite prestigious Champagne House in Reims for a full tour of the estate and cellars and a flute or two of their Champagne. Options include Ruinart, Veuve Clicquot, Taittinger, GH Mumm and Pommery.
• Rail travel will be arranged for you from Reims to Beaune (via Dijon).
• Check into your chosen hotel in Beaune.

Day seven of your France wine tour

• After breakfast, you will be met at the hotel by an English-speaking driver/guide, who will accompany you on a full day transported tour. Your tour day will comprise of
• Stops at several vineyards in the Côte de Beaune and the Côte de Nuits.
• A tour and tastings at a winery in the Côte de Beaune.
• Free time for lunch.
• A tour and tastings at a winery in the Côte de Nuits.
• A tasting amongst the vines.
• In the evening a four course gourmet dinner will be served in a premium city centre restaurant, accompanied by two half bottles of wine, water and coffee.

Final day of your France wine tour

• After breakfast, check out of your hotel.
• Enjoy a final cellar tour and tasting session with a traditional Burgundian wine-maker. Your knowledgeable host will talk you through tastings of six varied Burgundy wines.

(ii) The outline itinerary is indicative and is subject to minor changes depending on supplier availability. Availability cannot be guaranteed until we have received a confirmed booking, together with the deposit payment (or payment in full where the dates of travel are in less than 60 days). If the named accommodation / visits are not available, we will endeavour to find suitable alternatives of a similar grade; this may be subject to a supplement or a rebate depending on the price available.

Package Prices

• These prices are per person and based on two people travelling together and sharing a twin or double room.
• These are realistic guide prices, based on travel in standard season (usually April to the end of October). Discounts often apply for travel out of season (usually November to the end of March) or if there are more than two of you travelling together. Please let us know your preferred travel dates for a definitive price.
• Although we propose specific hotels as part of our standard packages, we enjoy excellent relationships and preferential rates at the majority of the hotels in each of our featured destinations. Therefore if you would prefer to stay in a different hotel, this can be arranged. Please contact us for the relevant supplements/discounts.
• Other room grades are available at most of the hotels that we work with. Just let us know which hotel you prefer and we will send you the relevant supplements for the various room grades.
• Single supplements and extra night prices are available upon request.
• If you would prefer the package excluding travel between the regions by rail, please deduct £130 per person.
• This package has been priced based on Monday to Saturday rail fares. Please bear in mind that rail travel on a Sunday can sometimes incur a supplement.

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