One of the world’s most famed wine regions, Burgundy holds a golden reputation. Whether you have a favourite corner of Burgundy that you’d like to dive into and explore, or you’re on a mission to discover every hidden gem this area is home to, Grape Escapes can put together the dream Burgundy wine tour for you.
Despite its rich reputation in the wine world, Burgundy remains largely unspoiled by tourism, which makes it a wonderful destination to discover off the beaten track. At Grape Escapes, we pride ourselves on being a friendly team with first-hand knowledge of every region. Being one of our larger regions in France, some of the team recently spent some time in Burgundy to further learn about the region and prepare themselves to create the most unforgettable trips for our clients.
Beginning in Beaune, the unofficial capital of the Cote d’Or, this quaint town centre is filled with medieval architecture and half-timbered houses, with the Hospices de Beaune taking the crown for architectural design. If you’re looking for a tour that covers the must-sees of Beaune and its surroundings, take a look at our Essential Beaune tour, or if you’re looking for some extra luxury, Exclusive Beaune could be the one for you. Don’t forget that all of our tours are 100% customisable 🙂
The first stop of the Grape Escapes team trip took us underground to Caves Patriarche Pere et Fils. With five kilometres of vaulted galleries dating back to the 13th century, this is a world of its own beneath the town of Beaune. Here, you can discover an impressive collection of 2 million aging bottles, the tour concluding with some tastings.
The discovery of historical Beaune continued with a tour and tastings at Beaune’s oldest cellars: Maison Joseph Drouhin. While this has been a family-run Grand Cru vineyard since 1880, with the name Joseph Drouhin having extended its wings with vineyards as far as Oregon, their Burgundy cellars boast a rich history, having once upon a time belonged to the Canons of Beaune, the Dukes of Burgundy and the Kings of France.
For night one, we stayed at the 5-star Hostellerie Cèdre, which also boasts an extraordinary spa. “After a great day out exploring, it was wonderful to sit by the open fire, drink in hand at Hostellerie le Cedre, enjoying the warm hospitality, as well as the flames, before retiring to a cosy room and comfortable bed!” (Nicola from Sales)
Waking up the next day, the first visit was to the impressive Henri de Villamont for a tour and tasting, before moving on to Domaine Charles Père & Fille, which produces an extensive range of wines from Chablis and Mâcon to Gevrey-Chambertin and Nuits-Saint-Georges. Following a tour and tastings at the estate, we were welcomed at the estate’s rustic on-site restaurant, La Table de Pauline, for the ultimate Burgundian experience.
This afternoon, we visited Le Manoir des Parcellaires de Saulx, a newer estate producing wines from Burgundy’s most prestigious appellations. Its far more modern approach provided a contrast from those other estates that we visited on this trip, and it’s in a delightful location overlooking the vineyards of Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet.
From modern back to old, we then paid a visit to Château de Pommard. Founded back in 1726, this is a UNESCO-protected domaine with delicious wines (Pinot Noir in particular). On this evening, dinner was served at Le Loiseau des Vignes, a delightful Bistrot serving traditional Burgundian fare.
Perhaps the overwhelming highlight from the whole trip was a visit and lunch at one of our most valued suppliers, Olivier Leflaive, having worked with them since we first began organising tours in Burgundy. An estate owned and run by brothers, we were welcomed with open arms by Olivier’s brother, Patrick, “a very charming man with an excellent sense of humour, who was hugely passionate about the wine they produce” (Lucy from Sales). Twenty years later, our clients continue to leave stellar reviews of their experience at Olivier Leflaive.
“My stand out favourite visit (but there were many) was Olivier Leflaive. When we arrived there were flakes of snow in the air and we were treated to a hot drink before wrapping up and embarking on a vineyard tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable and was able to answer any question, as she had worked on the vines for a number of years before training as a sommelier.” (Nicky from Finance)
“The tour at Olivier Leflaive was excellent, so informative and it was beautiful out amongst the premier cru vineyards. It was a pleasure to meet the charismatic Patrick Leflaive and the lunch at the restaurant paired with fabulous wines was divine.” (Nicola from Sales)
After such an impressive experience, we continued the day with a tour and tasting at Château de la Crée, which “offered a fabulous welcome, along with their sister estate Domaine Evenstad. It is really great to combine these two and visit the vineyards as well as the polished wine making facilities in the village at Evenstad. We learnt of the new option for a lovely cookery class at the Château in the impressive kitchen overlooking the surrounding vineyards – hoping to return to experience this in the future!” (Rachel from Sales).
Next stop, Château de Meursault. With a particular focus on organic and sustainable farming, it was a unique experience to learn about the winemaking process at this château.
In order for us to further explore the vastness of this region, we made a stop in the charming town of Dijon, perfect for those into cultural and foodie experiences. For more inspiration, take a look at our Essential Dijon experience. In addition to sampling some of the great food on the scene in Dijon, our time in Burgundy concluded with a final visit at La Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie et du Vin. This is a multi-sensory and immersive experience, enabling you to discover more about your surroundings, and the rich history of the area. The hands-on experience provided a wonderful contrast from the guided tours we’d had at other estates as part of this trip.
Feeling inspired? Our team would love to hear from you. Whether you know exactly what you’re looking for, or you’re interested in sampling more of what the extensive region of Burgundy has to offer, we can help.
Give us a call on +44 1920 46 86 66 or email info@grapeescapes.net and we’ll put you in touch with a personal luxury travel consultant to plan your unforgettable Grape Escape.
