Fairy-tale villages and world famous vineyards in French wine country. Burgundy beckons with warm - hearted locals, Gothic abbeys and magnificent fortresses. Farmlands, stone cottages and pastoral villages highlight our ride. Cycling the routes du vin, the vineyards of Burgundy stretch as far as the eye can see. From the Côte Chalonnaise to the Côte de Nuits, we pedal through row after row of vineyard sand small wine towns. Boasting vintners from Cistercian monks to the 14th c. Popes, Burgundian wines have a history and pedigree that is unique. After a day on the road, our beautiful hotels and authentic restaurants enhance our taste of this fertile, friendly land.
Highlights:
- Cycling through the vineyards of the Côte de Nuits;
- Dinner at Lameloise, a 3 star Michelin restaurant;
- The medieval Abbey of St. Philibert in Tournus;
- French pâtisserie at Mme Bouché's in Beaune;
- A fine glass of Chardonnay in Chassagne-Montrachet.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 & 2 - Tournus, Brancion & Cormatin
Apéritifs in our hotel's garden before dinner at a 2 star Michelin restaurant. Into Brancion, an old feudal market town with a Romanesque chapel and 10th c. castle. Optional route through spectacular vineyards and into Cormatin. Accommodation in Hôtel de Greuze, a 4 star hotel with views of the Abbey of St. Philibert, welcomes us for two nights.
Day 3 - Côte Chalonnaise
Past farms and fields of white Charolais cattle to the village of Mercurey. Enjoy alunch of coq au vin at a local auberge or visit the cellars of Domaine Michel Juillot. This afternoon we stop in the village of Rully for a private tour at Maison DeLorme, a premier producer of crémant, a sparkling wine similar to champagne.Tonight is one of our favorite meals, at the superb Lameloise. Overnight at Hôtel Lameloise, a 3 star Michelin restaurant and Relais & Châteaux property.
Day 4 & 5 - Côte d’Or & Côte de Beaune
Into the Côte d'Or to the Château de la Rochepot, a magnificent 13th c. medieval fortress topped with colorful Flemish tiles. A walking tour of Beaune highlights beautifully preserved stone facades, turreted roofs and the Flemish-Burgundian masterpiece Hôtel Dieu. An optional balloon ride gives us a different view of the vineyards and villages of the Côte de Beaune. Be sure to search out Madame Bouché's, the best patisserie in Burgundy. Accommodation: two nights at Hôtel le Cep, built during the Renaissance and located in the center of Beaune.
Day 6 & 7 - Route des Grands Crus
Fresh croissants and pain au chocolat before our ride into the Côte de Nuits. Pinot Noir vineyards blanket the countryside, punctuated by church spires and the brightly tiled steeples of tiny villages. As we bike through the Route des Grands Crus we pass the Domaine Romanée Conti and villages such as Nuits-St. George and Gevrey-Chambertin. Tour Château du Clos-de-Vougeot's impressive 12th c.wine cellar, and view their 800 year old presses originally built by Cistercian monks. We celebrate our week with champagne and a farewell feast in the spectacular vaulted dining room of our hotel. Grand finale at the Château de Gilly, a renowned French manor hotel.
Testimonials:
"I very much appreciated our guides' in-depth knowledge of Burgundy, French history and culture...they are both grand cru!" Barbara Allen
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price includes:
Meals - All breakfasts, all dinners but 1; picnic lunch;
Hotels - Relais & Châteaux and manor hotels.
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