France: Burgundy 5 Nights

The Region

The Burgundy region home to some of the greatest names in vineyard nomenclature: Chablis, Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Montrachet, Cotes de Beaune and Cotes de Nuits. Your pilgrimage for pinot noir perfection begins and ends here!

The Must Sees & Dos

Burgundy is also home to Vezelay Basilica, from where Crusaders gathered and set off on their journeys to Jerusalem; and, the Hospice de Beaune where prices for each vintage in Burgundy are set at the annual Wine Charity Auction.

Wineries You May Visit

Properties will be a selection of large negociants and small producers. Burgundy properties vary greatly in their presentation and philosophy, and many smaller producers do not speak English. Therefore choice of visits is sometimes dependent on guests' ability in French language, as well as normal constraints of time of year and advance booking notice. All visits are requested on an individual basis and winemakers' schedules can fill well in advance at certain times of the year. Visits are personally selected by Peter Smith, based on his extensive experience in the region, and are often with winemakers who are personal friends of his. Here are a few of those...Bouchard Pere & Fils, Jadot, Frederic Esmonin, Jean Raphet, Domaine des Marronniers, Dauvissat, Brocard, Comte Senard, Gros Frere & Sæur, Jean Gros, La Pousse d'Or, Domaine Prieure, Perrot-Minot, Bernard Morey, Jean Morey, Vincent Girardin and Vincent Jouard.

Accommodation

Hostellerie des Clos is the "only" hotel in Chablis. The rooms are very pleasant, there is a sauna & fitness room, and the Michelin-starred restaurant is excellent. Located in the heart of the village.

Hotel le Cep is the top-rated hotel in the Cote d'Or. Located in Beaune, around the corner from all the main attractions of this historic town and central to the entire region. Rooms in this period hotel each have their own style, but are all different; for this reason availability is limited and we may offer upgraded rooms for those who wish to stay here in busy periods.

Hotel le Cedre is a recently renovated property that is on the edge of Beaune, still within easy walking distance of the town center.

Hotel de la Poste is one of the oldest hotels in Beaune, but recently renovated and half a block from the Cep, again within easy reach of the town center.

Inclusions

• 6 days & 5 nights & hotel in shared double/twin room with local taxes
• 5 breakfasts
• 3 wine tasting lunches
• 1 gourmet dinner at Michelin Starred Hoestellerie des Clos
• 6 VIP private winery visits
• All wine tasting fees
• Entry to world famous Hospice de Beaune
• Artisan visits
• For self-drive program: includes rental car or van, maps and driving instructions/tips if you choose this option.
• For chauffeur program : includes car or van , driver and guided commentary if you choose this option
• For days and nights when lunch or dinner is not included, wine world management will provide recommended dining establishments and even make your reservation at no additional charge
• Detailed driving instructions and contact information are supplied for each visit.

Exclusions

Round trip airfare, customs fees, telephone, tips and taxis, alcoholic beverages, wine and dining there not are not specifically included in itinerary and personal items.

Pricing

All prices shown are per person double occupancy (twin share) and ultimately depend on program chosen, preferred accommodation, number of guests and type/size of rental car if self-drive. Prices that "can be as low as" refer to lowest per person price possible based on a group (3 couples, etc) of six like-minded wine and gourmet dining enthusiasts traveling together.

Self Drive Program priced from $2,219.00 per person double occupancy but can be as low as $2,149.00 based on the number of travelers in your party.

Chauffeur Program priced from $4,849.00 per person double occupancy but can be as low as $2,789.00.

Please Note: For our clients who do not wish to worry about driving and following our spot-on directions, we recommend our private chauffeur-driven and guided version of the same itinerary but with wonderful local knowledge, insider information and "flavour" that only an experienced and friendly French driver / guide can provide. It's truly a great value and a relaxing, fun experience.

Burgundy Wine World Itinerary

Your Wine World Adventure can begin on either a Monday or Tuesday.

Day 1
Morning - Pick up your rental car in Paris and head south on Autoroute A6 following directions to your hotel in Chablis. Lunch - A light lunch with a tasting of Chablis has been arranged for you at the Wine Bar (of Maison La Roche), in the heart of Chablis.

Afternoon - you're free to explore the Chablis wine country and orient yourselves for tomorrow's tours. You can take a drive right up into the Grands Crus vineyards that stand over the village to the south, and enjoy the quiet but interesting village itself.

Dinner - has been arranged for you at the Michelin-starred restaurant of your hotel - Hostellerie des Clos.

Day 2
Morning - Check out of your hotel after breakfast. Your first winery visit is set for 10:00AM at one of the top producers in Chablis. If you're not familiar with "real" Chablis you will be very pleasantly surprised - this is one of the most under-rated wine regions in the world, and the wines are getting better every year!

Lunch - Depart in time to drive to the village of Vezelay for lunch. There are a number of restaurants of various types in this pretty village, as well as many art and crafts shops. The main attraction though is the historic Basilica of the village, where the crusader frenzy of the Middle Ages fomented. Then the Basilica was the staging location from where the Crusaders set off from and today it is still a working abbey.

Afternoon - Depart Vezelay at your leisure and follow directions supplied to your hotel in Beaune. The remainder of the afternoon is yours to explore the wine country and get your bearings for tomorrow's tours.

Dinner - reservations will be made for you in your choice of our recommended restaurants.

Day 3
Morning - Today is your day for tasting the wines of the Cote de Nuits.First thing this morning, however we have atreat for you - drive up to Brochon, close to Dijon, to visit the famous Fromagerie Gaugry, founded in 1946 by Raymond Gaugry and currently run by his son and grandson. You can walk through the factory and observe the processes of cheese making in the most prestigious house in Burgundy. After this, we have arranged a winery visit in the Cote de Nuits at 10:30.

Lunch - A special Tasting Lunch is included at one of Burgundy's top producers (Domaine Comte Senard), where you will enjoy traditional local cuisine paired with 8 different wines including four Grands Crus from the famous Corton and Corton-Charlemagne vineyards, which are right around the corner from where you will be sitting.

Afternoon - After tasting 8 wonderful wines at lunch, you'll have time to relax before closing out this exceptional day with your planned winery visit at 3:30 PM

Dinner reservations can be made for you by advance request in any of our recommended restaurants at no extra charge, or you can choose to make your own arrangements.

Day 4
Morning - after breakfast, you'll leave your hotel and drive to your morning tasting in the Cote de Beaune at 10:00AM, enjoying your drive through the vineyards of Pommard, Volnay and Meursault before returning to Beaune

Lunch - at your leisure at one of our recommended restaurants.

Afternoon - included in your Wine World experience is entry to the famous Hospices de Beaune, the most important historical site in the town, dating from the 15th century and still a cornerstone of both the hospital it supports and the wine industry that has funded this charity since Nicolas Rollin founded it in 1443. Each year, the annual wine charity auction sets the price for each vintage in Burgundy, and raises over 5 million dollars for the hospice! We have left the rest of the day free for you to enjoy as you please - perhaps shopping and sightseeing in Beaune's streets, or exploring more of the villages up and down the Cote d'Or.

Dinner - reservations can be made for you by advance request in any of our recommended restaurants at no extra charge.

Day 5
Today is spent tasting the wines of both parts of the Cote d'Or. Morning - after breakfast at your hotel, we have arranged two visits for you this morning at 09:30AM and 11:00AM in the Cote de Beaune where you will taste mostly white Burgundies.

Lunch - you'll really enjoy today's tasting lunch, this time concentrating on whites, in the heart of the famous Montrachet region (Domaine Olivier Leflaive).

Afternoon - after enhancing your taste and appreciation for the whites of Burgundy, you'll cap the day with a 4:30 PM winery visit and tasting back in the Pinot Noir of the Cote de Nuits.

Dinner - reservations can be made for you by advance request in any of our recommended restaurants at no extra charge.

Day 6
Morning - after breakfast, today's the day when to experience the Beaune Market, one of the best "farmer's" markets in all of France - not touristy, but full of traditional produce both inside and out of the market hall. Check out of your hotel after the market. Say bon dieu to the pinot noirs, white burgundies and your new friend the chablis knowing that you'll never forget them or your Wine World experience in Burgundy.