Terroir Discovery of Burgundy

Day in Cote Maconnais and Cote Chalonnaise

This morning, you will be greeted at your local accommodation by your private driver-guide. After introductions, set out together to discover Maconnais and Cote Chalonnaise, two of the lesser known regions of Burgundy.

As you travel south you will leave the rugged landscape of the Cote D'Or and its Grand Cru vineyards behind and arrive in Cote Chalonnaise, a region that produces quaffable, value for money wines yet still boasts over 100 Premier cru vineyard plots. It is an excellent alternative for lovers of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, as well as Aligoté, which is only permitted as a single-varietal wine in the Bouzeron appellation.

Begin the day with two tastings at top producers in the region. Some of our preferred producers we will consider for todays tastings include Domaine Chanzy in Bouzeron and Chateau de Chamirey in Mercurey. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant in one of the many towns in the region (to be paid directly).

This afternoon, venture further south to the Maconnais winegrowing region where rolling landscapes are alternated with monumental cliffs. In this wonderful environment, where the Chardonnay grape reigns supreme and where patches of Gamay can be found, powerful white wines that are rich in aromas can be found. You will be welcomed to a family run winery such as Domaine Thibert for a visit of the property and a special tasting of Pouilly-Fuissé.

Time permitting, visit the village of Cluny and perhaps enjoy a visit at the Monastery of Cluny. Here, perhaps more than in any of the Bourgogne region’s other winegrowing areas, the monks played a key role. The abbey of Cluny, founded in 909 by William I, Count of Mâcon, followed the Benedictine tradition with the principle of ora et labora (pray and labor), which drove the monks to create their own vineyards.

At the end of the day, your guide will deliver you back to your accommodation.

Cote de Beaune - “Chardonnay’s Kingdom”

The Cote de Beaune region produces almost equal amounts of pinot reds and chardonnay whites, including the luscious red wines of Pommard and Volnay. In recent years attention has focused on the incredible white wines of villages like Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet, making some of the best whites the world over. A narrow strip of land less than 3 miles wide and running for 16 miles in a north-easterly direction, the Côte de Beaune area features limestone-rich soils and sunny exposure making for excellent terroir. The region's most favored vineyards are those on the slopes of the Côte d'Or and it is the intimate knowledge of the land, and of the wine it can generate, which underpins the classification into premier cru and grand cru categories.

Cote de Beaune Discovery

You will be joined by your private guide today to dive into the realm of Burgundians. Today, head southward on a pleasant drive towards the vineyards of the Cote de Beaune, stopping in the vineyards for a panoramic view of the Grand Cru producing area and a full presentation of the Burgundy area.

The program for today includes some of the highest quality tastings in the region. Your pallet will encounter prestige wines, exemplifying the varietal characters along with each producer’s individual legacy.

Some of the producers we will consider for todays tastings include:
• Pierre-Mayeul - negociant for wines of great character, structure and depth by Ludivine Grivault, head wine maker at the Hospices de Beaune
• Domaine Dubreuil-Fontaine - a family winery in Pernand-Vergelesses
• Chateau de Pommard - Famous Chateau with highly regarded wines
• Chateau de Chassagne - Of the Picard family producing bio-dynamic wines
• Domaine Chapuis - A family vineyard in Aloxe-Corton
• Chateau Coton C - A highly prized Chateau in Aloxe-Corton

Experience the French way of life with a traditional lunch at a local restaurant (to be paid directly) or alternatively we can arrange a wine tasting lunch at an Domaine such as Comte Senard or Maison Olivier Leflaive (Supplement charge applies)

Discuss with your guide throughout the day the notion of terroir and gain an even better understanding of what makes these wines particularly special.

In the late afternoon your guide will bring you back to your hotel.

Burgundian Cooking Lesson

This morning, meet your chef in Beaune and together head to the kitchen where you will be welcomed with coffee, tea and viennoiseries. Using the freshest seasonal produce, your chef will introduce you to the hands-on cooking class. You will cook an entire 4-course authentic gastronomic Burgundian menu.

After the lesson, enjoy the fruits of your labor while your chef serves some of their favorite Burgundian wines. During your meal, your chef will give you an overview of Burgundian wines as well as teach you how the intricacies of pairing food and wine. Throughout the experience, your chef will share her passion for food as well as cooking tips and techniques, Burgundian staples, and of course her personal stories!
Note: On Saturdays a visit to the market to select your ingredients is included.

Beaune at Leisure

Discover Beaune at your own pace today. Today, enjoy a leisurely start to the day. Perhaps venture out to discover some of the culinary delights this epicurean destination has to offer. We recommend making stops at the Cook’s Atelier boutique culinary shop, La Moutarderie Fallot or one of the local épiceries such as Epicerie Fine Gerard. The Beaune open-air market is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays and is a lively affair to shop for not only local produce and products, but antique goods and crafts.

Perhaps enjoy a tasting in one of the many in-town tasting rooms this afternoon.

Cote de Nuits - Pinot Noir Paradise

Considered as one of the most prestigious area of Burgundy, the Côte de Nuits is the home of Pinot Noir offering powerful red wines with an international reputation. This region is home to 24 of Burgundy's 33 grand cru appellations with famous domaines such as La Tâche, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze and the renowned Romanée-Conti, producer of the most expensive wine in the world.

A journey down the Burgundy “Champs-Elysées” along the Grands Crus Wine Road allows you to discover a precious heritage built by the Cistercians during the Middle Ages along with breathtaking landscapes. The monks left us more than the vines. They also left beautiful and rare historic monuments. The Château of Clos de Vougeot and the Abbey of Cîteaux reflect this long human history of the wine culture in Burgundy.

Cote de Nuits - “The Champs-Elysées of Burgundy”

Set out with your local private guide this morning to discover the Northern half of the escarpment of the Côte d'Or, named after its principal town of Nuits-St-Georges. As you travel along the along the Grands Crus Wine Road you will be welcomed to a range of Domaines for private tours and exemplary tastings. Learn about the exceptional chemistry between the terroirs, the grapes and the know-how of the growers to produce elegant Pinot Noirs.

Some of the producers we will consider for todays tastings include:
• Maison Marchand-Tawse - a biodynamic negociant in Nuits Saint Georges
• Domaine Bernard Rion - a family run winery in Vosne Romanee offering tastings of truffle and a Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru
• Domaine Faiveley - a prestigious winery family run for seven generations in Nuits Saint Georges
• Domaine Dubois - a family run winery in Nuits Saint Georges
• Domaine Michel & Frederic Magnien in Morey-Saint-Denis - Biodynamic wines aging in TerraCotta

There will be time to stop in one of the villages today to enjoy lunch at one of our favorite restaurants such as La Toute Petite Auburge serving traditional Burgundian dishes with a glass of local wine (to be paid directly). Alternatively, we can arrange a wine tasting lunch at Domaine Trapet, an organic winery in Gevrey-Chambertin (Supplement charge applies).

In the late afternoon, your guide will return you to the doorstep of your hotel.

After checking out of your accommodation, meet your private driver who will transfer you to the train station to catch your connecting train.

Bon Voyage!