Burgundy & Champagne Prestige Tour, France

May 26-31, 2008

Limited to 12 guests 

$4,995 / person

Ask For Full Itinerary & Reservation Forms, please click on the button below

Enjoy private tastings at some of the most prestigious estates of Burgundy’s Côte d'Or, including Premier and Grand Crus in legendary appellations like Vosne Romanée, Chambertin and Meursault. Discover Burgundy’s rich cultural heritage in the medieval city of Beaune with its beautiful Renaissance architecture and famous Hospices, and at the historic Chateau de Clos de Vougeot, where winemaking began in this region. Then on to Champagne for VIP tastings at exclusive Champagne houses, including a very special blending tasting at Veuve Clicquot. This luxurious voyage includes exceptional dining at some of the best Michelin-starred restaurants in France and beautiful first-class accommodations. An unforgettable wine and food vacation for the discriminating wine lover!

Your 6 Day, 5 Night Luxury Tour of Burgundy and Champagne includes:

• Deluxe air-conditioned motor coach transportation throughout

• Group transfers on the first and last days of the tour

• The services of an English-speaking wine expert guide throughout the tour

• 3 nights at 4-Star Luxury Hotel le Cep in Beaune, double occupancy, in Deluxe room

• 2 nights at 4-Star Luxury Relais & Chateau member Hotel Royal Champagne near Epernay, double occupancy, in Deluxe room

• Buffet breakfast each day

• 4 gastronomic dinners with premium wines, including one at a 3-star restaurant and two at a 1-star restaurant

• 3 gastronomic lunches with premium wines, including two at 1-star restaurants

• A special wine tasting lunch with 14 wines at Olivier Leflaive

• Admission and private guided tour at the Clos de Vougeot

• All VIP tours and tastings at the best estates of these regions

• An Introduction to Wine Tasting taught at the level of the group

• A full packet of information on the region and wine tasting, a tasting notebook created by French Wine Explorers, and small wine accessory gift sent to you in advance of the tour

• All local taxes

• All gratuities for baggage handling and included restaurants

Price per person, double occupancy: US $ 4,995.00

Single Supplement: US $ 755.00

(Singles: Let us know if you’d like to room with another single to take advantage of the double occupancy price, upon availability.)

Itinerary *

Monday, May 26

Meet at 10am at Dijon’s TGV station (Dijon Ville) and transfer by luxury motor coach to the Côte de Nuits. Your exploration of Burgundy starts in the place where winemaking first began in this region, the historic Clos de Vougeot. This beautiful 13th century monastery is now owned by the Confrérie du Tastevin, the famous wine brotherhood of Burgundy. During a fascinating guided tour of the Clos, learn how wine was made in the Middle Ages and see their massive 13th century wine presses that still work to this day! Afterward,, you’ll taste Premier and Grand Cru wines at one of the best producers of Grand Cru appellation Clos de Vougeot (the vineyard that surrounds the monastery), Domaine Bertagna. Lunch will be at the charming country inn Castel de Très Girard.

This afternoon includes tastings at two of the star producers of the Côtes de Nuits (we often visit Domaine Henri Rebourseau, Anne Gros, Domaine des Lambrays, among others). Check in early evening to the elegant 4-star Luxury Hotel Le Cep, ideally located in the very center of Beaune, just around the corner from the Hôtel Dieu (Hospices). You have the evening free tonight to enjoy this charming town and discover its great restaurants, with our suggestions.

Tuesday, May 27

Explore the Côtes de Beaune today, home to the greatest Grand Cru white wine vineyards like the legendary Montrachet, as well as the famous appellations of Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet and Volnay. You’ll taste at two of this area’s top estates: Louis Carillon, Etienne Sauzet, Chateau de Pommard, Marc Colin are among those we regularly visit. Another treat today: a special wine tasting lunch at Domaine Olivier Leflaive, with 14 great wines to taste!

Tonight, you’ll enjoy a wonderful dinner at 1-star Jardin des Remparts, Beaune’s finest restaurant.

Wednesday, May 28

The morning is yours to see Beaune. Tour the historic Hospices de Beaune, check out the fabulous Athenaeum wine bookstore and boutique, visit the Wine Museum, or just wander through the historic district with its typical Burgundian architecture. Lunch on your own, then we meet up in the afternoon for a tour and tasting at one of Burgundy’s best négociants, located right in Beaune: Maison Bouchard Père et Fils in the beautiful (and totally private) 15th century Chateau de Beaune. A tasting at another top producer like Louis Jadot or Robert Drouhin rounds out the afternoon. Dinner tonight is at one of the best restaurants in all of France, 3-star Lameloise, with their exceptional Tasting Menu accompanied by great wines.

Thursday, May 29

Travel this morning to Reims (3 hour drive) in Champagne, arriving in time for a wonderful lunch at 1-star Le Foch restaurant. Then visit the spectacular Reims Cathedral, where French kings held their coronations from the 8th to the 19th centuries. Of particular interest in the Cathedral are the stunning stained glass windows, including one by the famous artist Marc Chagall. Then enjoy a tour of the impressive cellars of Veuve Clicquot containing chalk pits (“crayères”) dating back to Roman times.

After your tour, you’ll have a very exclusive tasting at their winery facility led by one of their top winemakers. You’ll have the rare opportunity to taste still wines from the three individual grape varieties and different “cru” villages, and then see how they are blended to make their best Champagnes. Check into our hotel for the next two nights, 4-star Relais & Chateau member Hotel Royal Champagne near Epernay, with gorgeous views over the vineyards from your room. Dinner tonight at their lovely, panoramic 1-star restaurant.

Friday, May 30

Today you’ll discover the more intimate side of Champagne as we visit two exclusive “boutique” Champagne producers, including the legendary Salon which is famous for making Champagne only in the best vintage years. Among the others we usually visit are Grand Cru producers Selosse, Billecart Salmon or DeSouza. A delicious lunch at 1-star Hostellerie La Briquetterie restaurant awaits you. This afternoon, discover the history of the legendary Dom Perignon, the monk to whom we attribute several of the most important advances in Champagne production that made Champagne into France’s most famous wine. Visit the Abbey in the charming hilltop village of Hautvillers where Dom Perignon was cellarmaster and see his tomb there.

Then return to Epernay and the famous house of Moêt et Chandon. Here, you’ll have a private tour devoted to the cuvée Dom Perignon, which is only made in the best vintage years from 100% Grand Cru grapes. A tasting of one of the finest vintages of Dom Perignon will close your visit, in a private salon with one of Moêt’s distinguished sommeliers. Our farewell dinner will be at the hotel’s fantastic restaurant.

Saturday, May 31

Your program ends after breakfast with a transfer in our motor coach to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, arriving at 11:30am-12noon, then final drop-off in central Paris.

* Itinerary subject to change: every effort will be made to keep the itinerary as close as possible to what appears here; however, the final itinerary may vary due to wine producer schedules, availability and factors beyond our control.

For reservations or more information (Detailed Brochure / Terms and Conditions) :

Contact us at vacations@giramondowine.com This tour is operated by a partner of GiraMondo Wine adventures, specializing in wine vacations all around the world. This company accepts VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Discover cards or checks / money orders denominated in US dollars.

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