Good Morning,
My wife and I will be staying in Beaune from 9/27 to 9/30, arriving late on Friday and leaving late on Monday (via train). Any suggestions for places to visit and what we should expect to pay? A fully guided tour look we found looks to be $350/person, which seems to be pretty expensive.
Also, any options that are open on Sunday? If not wineries, any other ideas for Sunday activities?
Thanks!
Oh my gosh, you will be in Beaune during their jazz festival. We went 2 years ago and it was great.
There was also a great farmers market. We went on a Saturday, not sure if it is every day or just Saturdays.
Have fun.
Cathy
I’m hoping someone will give you some ideas as we need recommendations too for Beaune!
I'm pretty sure Rick lists suggested tour guides, or you could rent a car and DIY. We got ours at the Dijon station.
If you want to stay in town, you certainly won't need to hire a car or a guide. Maison Patriarche does extensive tours of its cave that include wine tasting.
We were able to book a wine tasting at Bouchard Ainé et Fils on a Sunday. https://www.bouchard-aine.fr/en/
I can't speak to the quality as we haven't been yet. We'll actually be there the same weekend as you. :)
The Patriarche cave is interesting, but it's certainly no vineyard if that is the experience one seeks.
And frankly I wasn't impressed with their wines, which did not endear me to the staff who expected me to pop for at least a case.
Hi Jonathan,
Guided tours are expensive and you don't need one in Beaune. Here are my suggestions:
Safe Travels
My personal problem with Burgundy is that wines I enjoy from the region (and they can be absolutely delicious) start at about $250 a bottle and work their way rapidly upward from that price point. I purchased a bottle of Corton that had been selected for the Hospice de Beaune annual auction for 80 euros. When I opened it, it was thin, acidic and basically undrinkable. Never again. But the city and its environs are delightful.
Buy the Rick Steves France guide it covers Burgundy well.
We visited Jacques Prieur about 10 years ago and it was really great. At the time he recommended that we have lunch at Olivier’s love which we couldn’t do because they weren’t open and we were leaving that day. We ate there a few weeks ago and it’s fabulous three-course meal with a wine pairing of local Burgundies and white Burgundies. Highly recommended had we had more time this year I would’ve wanted to go to Boisset, Prieur, and Jadot for a mix of prices and setting. All three have solid reputations. So many wineries. I’ve enjoyed Richeborg and faiveley wines, too. I think jadot is more like what you’d experience in Napa.
I stayed just outside of Beaune in 2019. I had a car, so I checked out several wineries in the area. I learned that almost all the wineries were small and family run. Not like Napa or Sonoma in California, where they are considerable size. Once place had a good size limestone storage cave where the owner let me venture out on my own. I tried to walk up and tour Chateau de Pommard, but it was already booked for the day. The manager suggested that I could walk up at a less popular time, like early Sunday morning. I returned on Sunday and had a one on one guided tour.
I also enjoyed touring the Hospice and checking out the farmer's market nearby.
