Burgundy

At a glance

In 2021, The Lonely Planet designated Burgundy as one of the top ten regions to explore in the world for 2022. When you visit and discover the region’s delicious cuisine, world-renowned wines, and beautiful natural scenery, you won’t have any trouble understanding why it made their list!

When it comes to touring the region, we recommend taking an aquatic approach: Burgundy boasts an extensive network of canals, rivers, and other waterways. Board a river boat in any direction to sail past the region’s rolling hillsides, forests, chateaux, and sleepy villages, admiring the sights at your own leisurely pace.

The region of Burgundy has an extraordinary historical heritage dating back to the arrival of the Burgondes in the 5th century. However, it wasn’t until the 14th and 15th centuries that the previously fragmented kingdom of Burgundy was reunited by a series of ducal marriages, leading to the creation of one of the most powerful dynasties in Europe at that time.

During this defining period, Burgundy flourished under various influential Valois Dukes. The most famous and influential of these Dukes was Philippe the Good (1396 – 1467), who brought Flemish art and Romanesque architecture to the region. His artistic and architectural influences can still be admired today all around the region and particularly in Dijon, the city where the Valois Dukes of Burgundy made their home.

The Essentials

Wines

Burgundy is probably the most iconic and complex wine region in the world today. The reds are Pinot Noir and the whites Chardonnay. They are just single varietals, and nothing is blended. That’s the simple part. After that, things get more complicated.

At 75,000 acres, it is a relatively small region, and only produces around 15.5 million cases of wine a year. Burgundy makes up for its small size with the quality of its wines: The region produces some of the most sought-after and expensive wines in the world, including iconic pinots like the Romanée-Conti, Richebourg, la Tâche, and the legendary chardonnay of Montrachet. In fact, although Burgundy wine makes up only 4.5 percent of France’s wine exports in volume, it accounts for a whopping 21 percent of its revenue!

Despite what you may think when you hear the word “Burgundy”, 60 percent of the wine produced in this region is actually white. Burgundy is famous for its single grape varietals, for the reds, delicate and aromatic Pinot Noirs. For the whites, the region is celebrated for its mineral, fleshy, and complex Chardonnays. Pinot Noir makes up 39.5 percent of wine produced in the region, while Chardonnay accounts for around 51 percent.

Burgundy has 5 wine districts spanning an area of 150 miles: The furthest north is Chablis, with its famous clean and crisp chardonnays. The furthest south near Macon, you’ll find the villages of Pouilly Fuissé and Saint Véran.

The Côte de Nuits & Côte de Beaune are considered the prime districts. Côte de Nuit is home to the most famous Pinot Noir villages, namely Vosne-Romanée, Gevrey Chambertin, Chambolle Musigny, and Nuits Saint Georges. The most famous Chardonnay villages can be found in the Côte de Beaune district, such as Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet.

Understanding Burgundy wines is not an easy task, but learning about the labels, classifications, and styles for each village will help you to enjoy these fabulous wines. And don’t forget, you just have to try the whites. After all, this is the home of the best Chardonnay in the world!

As for your itinerary, we can get you into the bigger wine houses, dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as the smaller, family-run wineries where tourists do not normally go. Let us know what you have in mind, and we will create your perfect itinerary.

Gastronomy

As the famous food critic Brillat-Savarin once said: “The fate of a nation depends on the way they eat”! There is no better demonstration than in Burgundy, where local wines and products of the land come together to produce dishes as emblematic as those who have called the region home, from Gustav Eifel to Victor Hugo.

L’escargot

Escargot, or snails, are often baked in a cassoulet dish bathed in garlic, butter, and parsley. The snails themselves have very little flavor: The addition of butter and aromatics is what makes the dish special.

Eggs Meurette

In this well-known starter, poached eggs sit atop a red wine, bacon, and onion sauce (the left-over sauce from a beef bourguignon stew). This highly savory snack is usually eaten with slices of toasted bread.

Gougères and Jambon Persillé

“Gougères” or cheese puffs, and “Jambon Persillé” or marbled ham, are two other savory treats you will find offered as appetizers in the local restaurants.

Local Entrees

Beef Bourguignon stew – Chunks of beef in a stew of red wine and vegetables

Poulet Gaston Gérard – Roast pieces of chicken in a cream and mustard sauce.

Coq au vin – chicken braised with wine, lardons, mushrooms and red or white wine

Cheese and Mustard

Burgundy is also very famous for its cheeses. Some joke that in Burgundy there’s a different cheese for every day of the year!

Some of the most famous and delicious cow cheeses include Epoisses (hand-bathed in the local brandy), Citeaux, Brillat Savarin (yes, when you’re famous in Burgundy, they name a cheese after you!), and, of course, Comté!

And what better to accompany your cheese course than a thick, tangy local mustard, made with the region’s white wine!

Heritage & Culture

Dijon

Dijon is the administrative capital of Burgundy and home to the aforementioned Valois Dukes.

Visitors to the historic city should not pass up the opportunity to visit the ducal palace, Philippe the Good’s tower, the fine arts museum, and the numerous Romanesque and gothic churches and cathedrals.

For those in need of some refreshments, head to Dijon’s beautiful covered market, designed by Eiffel Tower designer and Dijon native, Gustav Eiffel, to shop for local produce. If you are looking for a place to dine or have a drink, check out the famous pedestrian street, Rue de la Liberté. Stroll along the street, which begins by the Triumphal Arch and ends at Liberation Square, until you find a bar or bistro that tickles your fancy.

Beaune

Located in the heart of the famous wine district, the walled city of Beaune is commonly referred to as the “Wine Capital of Burgundy”. In fact, Beaune’s long history of wine-making dates back to Roman times. The Romans built a small settlement in present-day Beaune in AD40 as a strategic hub to supply their army with wine and other necessities.

It’s no surprise then that some of the oldest and largest houses belonging to wine merchants can be found in Beaune. Cellars from these grand homes make up a labyrinth of tunnels under the city — Visit one of these ancient wine houses to explore some of these ancient tunnels!

Beaune is also home to the most visited monument in Burgundy, the Hospices de Beaune (hospital monument). Built in 1443 by then chancellor of Burgundy, Nicolas Rolin, the monument’s flamboyant gothic architecture and extensive art collection make for an unforgettable visit.

Dining in Beaune is a must. There are dozens of wonderful restaurants, some with Michelin stars, and others just fabulous bistros! The best restaurants can be found around the Place Carnot and the Hospices de Beaune monument.

Things to know

Dijon is only 1 hour and 40 minutes from Paris by TGV (fast) train.

The climate in Burgundy is both oceanic and semi-continental. So, winters are cool and sometimes very cold, and summers are hot and dry. Temperatures in July and August can reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit, but humidity is low.

Although wine tourism is developing rapidly in the region, keep in mind that the super iconic wineries will not allow you to visit. Trust us: You have a higher chance of taking a sip of Romanée-Conti, the most expensive wine in the world.

Fill up on vegetables and salads before you arrive— This is a big meat-and-potato region! However, you can be a vegetarian and still enjoy Burgundy food, as many local restaurants now provide a vegetarian option.

We recommend you stay in the city of Beaune if your visit centers mainly around wine, as the city is located right in the center of the wine trail that passes through all the famous wine villages in Burgundy. Head north for the Pinot Noirs and south for the Chardonnays. Our favorites in Beaune are the Hostellerie Le Levernois (3 miles outside of Beaune), le Cep (center), and le Cèdre and l’Hôtel de Beaune.

Dijon is ideal if you want to discover the history and culture in addition to food and wine. Our favorite places to stay in Dijon are the Grand Hôte de la Cloche, Hôtel Philippe le Bon, and the Hostellerie du Chapeau Rouge.

Other experiences

Champagne

Champagne; the universal drink of celebration and love. Over 300 million bottles are sold around the world, each one produced from grape to bottle in this small grape-growing region located only 100 miles outside of Paris.

Here you’ll discover a trail of manicured vineyards draped over the rolling hillsides, shouldering tiny villages, and inevitably leading to the cities Epernay and Reims, where the iconic Bollinger, Veuve Cliquot, and Ruinart house their glorious champagnes. Pay a visit to one of the family-owned producers in a nearby village, or explore the tunnels carved out beneath the city of Reims by its ancient Roman inhabitants.

No wine region in France exists without its gastronomy, and Champagne is no exception. White sausage (Retherl Boudin Blanc), Joute vegetable stew, and Chaource cheese are delectable local specialties that incidentally all pair perfectly with champagne!

Bordeaux

Bordeaux is the oldest and arguably the most famous wine region in the world. Its red wines are legendary: Cabernets are bold, Merlot’s elegant, Cabernet Francs intense, Sauternes are sublimely sweet, and the Sauvignon Blanc is fresh and expressive. Each château has its own architectural charm and legend, whether Petrus, Margaux, Mouton Rothschild, or Yquem to name just a few.

The stunningly beautiful vineyards lying on either side of the rivers Gironde and Garonne match the equally elegant city of Bordeaux proudly known as the City of Art & History and making it one of the most fascinating and popular cities in France.

Bordeaux’s culinary reputation is second to none. On the coast, you will find a mouth-watering array of seafood dishes, including Cap Ferret oysters, Aquitaine caviar, and the region’s tender, grass-fed Beef de Bazas. and for desserts head to the village of Saint Emilion for the perfect macaron, or sample one of the deeply caramelized Canelé pastries fresh from a local bakery.

Loire Valley

The natural beauty of this aptly called “Garden of France” is truly unparalleled. Following the Loire River as it carves its bed through hills and forests, you will uncover an endless string of breath-taking Chateaux. The region stretches 600 miles from the center of France to the Atlantic coast, making the Loire the third biggest wine region in France. Its cities burst with legends, with Orléans, the official capital of the Loire, the birthplace of Joan of Arc!

Here, you’ll find the famous Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre, as well as Chenin Blanc from Touraine and Anjou.

There are many gourmet delights, particularly in the city of Tours. Pop into one of the city’s many fabulous restaurants to sample some Rillettes, as this local pork spread is known to be the best in France. And we highly recommend you order the fish, as the region specializes in many dishes featuring some of the local varieties of river fish.

Thirsty for more?
Contact us