Paris + Countryside

I strongly suggest going to your countryside spot first --- head there by train the late afternoon of your arrival in Paris and pick up a car the next day. You might go to Beaune for example and then get the car the next day. I love Burgundy. I personally like the smaller towns. We stayed in a cottage in Semur en Auxois and enjoyed the day tripping in the area and the town is just so beautiful. But you don't have much time and so I'd get a hotel of course. If you want to tour wine Beaune is not a bad choice either.
https://janettravels.wordpress.com/2010/08/25/medieval-towns/
There are lots of nice spots in Burgundy and it is just lovely country. We enjoyed the chateaux and abbeys and towns. Burgundy is certainly nicer than Provence in August and of course closer to Paris.

Then finish in Paris so you are there for the trip home and you don't waste your penultimate day rushing back to Paris for the trip home. for this trip it would be really nice to have just a few more days. Certainly you want no fewer than 5 nights in Paris.

Note that in France and particularly in Paris that a small child is not automatically permitted or free in a double room whether in your bed or not. People have been turned away arriving with a toddler to their double. You must book for two adults and a child. Sometimes that means a triple room; sometimes it is okay in a larger double; sometimes there is a charge and sometimes not -- but you must have booked the room for three.

You can do all of that (see, drink, and eat) in both places, though the wine is better in Burgundy.

Two things Provence has that Burgundy does not: magnificent Roman antiquities (the remains of the Roman garrison near Meursault are a serious disappointment, a mere pile of rocks), and rail connections.

That said, you would be advised to rent a car in either place, if you want to see the countryside. But were you determined not to, I should steer you to Provence over Burgundy because of the quality of the transportation network.

With the prominence you gave in your question to wine, visiting wineries, and great French food, it’s no question that Burgundy is the place for you.

I used to stay in a place in Chablis that alas is no longer what it used to be, but see what you can find there in booking.com. Wonderful market on the weekends and absolutely lovely drives all around the countryside.

Check and see if Brendan Moore is still doing wine tours, he is fantastic and will get you into little places you wouldn’t discover on your own.

Is your toddler coming or staying with grandparents?

I agree with others, Burgundy is probably the best fit.

We like to stay in small B&Bs that aren’t fancy. For Paris, use Alcove and Agape to find a place to stay.

It’s too bad you don’t have more time. We spent an entire week in Locke’s in May. We enjoyed the more relaxed pace that more than a few days provided. We made some friends there and are planning to go back for two weeks next Spring.

Thanks all! We are not bringing our toddler. Looks like we will do Burgundy - I appreciate all of the suggestions!

There's fast train service (TGV, two hours) directly between CDG and Dijon, so if the schedule is right you could go right there. Allow at least a few hours for possible flight and/or immigration delay. From Dijon it's a short train ride to Beaune, or you could spend the night in Dijon and get a car the next morning for another Burgundy base. You'll want a car in Burgundy. You can take a train back from Dijon to Paris (Gare de Lyon).

I agree with Janet's general idea to devote that first jet-lagged day to transportation, getting to the "farthest out" point of your trip, since you won't be in good shape for sightseeing anyway. The TGV from the airport makes this easier for you. But if you want to start your trip in Paris, then go to Burgundy, you could take the TGV back to CDG before your flight home. If your flight is well into the afternoon you might take the train that morning. But with a morning flight it would be much safer to take the train the day before and spend the last night at an airport hotel -- there are several right at the airport.

Where do you recommend setting up home base in Burgundy? We will only be there three nights and would rather not stay in a larger town, but I do want to have easy access to restaurants at night. We want to visit the small towns and enjoy wine tastings/tours, but we do not want to be traveling the entire time. I am torn between staying in the southern area between Beaune and Dijon - along the Route des Grand Crus - or staying close or in Vezelay - visiting Chablis and northern towns. Considering staying in town or in the countryside at a Chateau. No option is bad, just looking for advice on making the most out of our short time in beautiful Burgundy!