We are spending four days in Beaune in late September and will have a car. However, we would like to spend a day with an organized small tour of the area and wineries. Anyone have their favorites? Any must sees in the region? We are active 60 year olds and love history and to hike. Thanks for your input.
Posted by
Green Bay
21160 posts
Used these guys a few years back. Highly satisfied.
https://wineandvoyages.com/
Posted by
Kihei, Hawaii
475 posts
We did a bike tour with Bourgogne Evasion:
http://burgundybiketour.com/?xdomain_data=p5Nx87OzwWX8vQ1HINPM3F6jvXgbxc9egobSjXKVCE5szLhXOsO5PmQNHVQ%3D
Was very fun and we went through some beautiful little villages we would never have found on our own.
Posted by
67 posts
We rented bikes in Beaune from a shop near the station. Cycled south on a signed bike route using mostly trails through the vineyards going through wonderful little appellation villages. Stopped at several wineries for tastings. Picked up a bottle and had s nice picnic lunch. Ended up after 25km at a canal and headed along it to a town with a station (sorry - forgot the name) paid a couple of euro and back to the Beaune station we went. A very enjoyable (and inexpensive) day!
Posted by
Twin Cities of MN
6486 posts
@Daniel, that sounds wonderful! We've done a lot of wine tasting in Alsace and Loire. We stopped in Beaune for just a day and went to a couple wineries in town. Can you give me a general idea of the price range for bottles of wine at the places you were visiting? We left feeling that the wineries were a little "snooty" but I think I'd like to spend more time and try more of a variety of wineries.
Posted by
Lake Forest, CA, USA
1633 posts
Beaune is a cute, small town, however, it is also a very touristy town. In Beaune, I enjoy the audio tour of the Hospice. Make sure you see the artwork at the end of the tour--especially beautiful.
In reference to wineries, there are several small towns outside of Beaune that have small, family wineries that sometimes have free tasting (at least they did when I went).
In Volnay, I like this family winery: http://www.domainechristophevaudoisey.com/
In Pommard, I enjoyed free wine tasting here: http://michelrebourgeon.wixsite.com/domaine-mr-pommard/copie-de-notre-caveau
There are other wineries in these small towns--look for signs.
Posted by
67 posts
I can’t remember how much the wines were but cheap enough that one was consumed for a picnic. The 3 we tried were all low key. Free tastings I believe.
Btw a day trip via train to Dijon is also nice.
Posted by
Green Bay
21160 posts
Can you give me a general idea of the price range for bottles of wine at the places you were visiting? We left feeling that the wineries were a little "snooty" but I think I'd like to spend more time and try more of a variety of wineries.
Our experience is 25 to 30 EUR will get a bottle of Premier Cru wine. Grand Cru is 60 to the sky. One of the advantages to a tour is the guide has booked in advance, they know your coming and pretty much know what to expect, so are very welcoming. Just stopping in unannounced and wanting a free tasting and signaling you are interested in plonk might rub a few growers the wrong way. Yes, they will profile you. "Why do these people cross an ocean and come to the the most treasured wine region in the world (at least in their opinion) to drink ordinary wine?"
Another nationality has fat wallets, and their knowledge of wine is limited to "The more it costs, the better it must be." They do not get any "snooty" attitude.
I compared the prices of bottles we bought when we returned home and when you could find them, they were about double what we paid in France. BTW, the most despised name in Burgundy, Robert Parker.