If you love Pinot Noir or Chardonnay, then extend your trip to Burgundy.
Burgundy is home to some of the most famous wines in the world, representing 3% of France’s vineyards, and has a higher number of appellations d'origine contrôlée (AOCs) than any other French region.
Burgundy is the most terroir-oriented region in France, with 400 types of soil where grapes are grown and a total of around 3,200 wine domaines with 150 AOCs. The southern part of Champagne was once part of Burgundy before the riots in 1911.
All tours are personalized and we generally visit at least one very well-known brand plus some small grower vineyards where you have the opportunity to compare the winemakers' style, village, terroir, and age.
The Chablis region is the northernmost wine district of Burgundy's Cote d'Or. The terroir is very similar to the Blancs de Blancs of Champagne with chalky soil filled with oyster shells at certain levels. The cool climate here produces wines with more acidity and flavors less fruity than Chardonnay wines grown in warmer climates. During the Middle Ages , monks from the Abbey of Pontigny were the first to plant Chardonnay making a dry white wine renowned for the purity of its aroma and flavours of lemon and minerals.The cool climate of this region produces wines with more acidity and flavors less fruity than Chardonnay wines grown in warmer climates.
Pinot Noir is at its best on the cool limestone slopes of Burgundy, and is grown mostly in the Côte de Nuits. Unlike most Champagne, the great Burgundies are made from a single grape variety. The idea of terroir was first recognized by the monks when they noticed that wine from certain parts of the vineyard was better than others. They began to divide up the land according to terroir for example Clos de Vougeot, has over 80 owners.
Located in the southern part of the Côte d'Or, the vineyards of the Côte de Beaune feed some of the best vineyards in the region, with the city of Beaune as its wine trading capital. Beaune is the regional capital of the wine trade. Wine auctions are held each November. Hôtel Dieu, founded in 1443 after a hundred year war, is part of the Hospices de Beaune, a hospital for the poor and needy, and is considered one of the marvels of Burgundian-Flemish art.
All tours are personalized and we generally visit at least one very well known brand plus some small grower vineyards where you have the opportunity to compare the winemakers: style, village, terroir and age.
Spend the evening in a private chateau near Chablis and either drive into Auxerre for dinner or have a lovely platter of cold foods delivered to your room to enjoy with a bottle of Chablis you purchased that day. If you are visiting the Cote'dOr as well, there are some wonderful Chateaux and Abbey Hotels to stay at overnight, or you can stay in Beaune or Dijon according to your itinerary.
