From EUR 6'280
Welcome to an enchanting journey through the heart of French wine country, where the vineyards of Burgundy and the slopes of Côte du Rhone beckon with their rich history and exquisite flavors. After 2 days in Paris, begin your adventure in Burgundy, where centuries of winemaking tradition have produced some of the world's most sought-after Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. Traverse the picturesque landscapes of Côte du Rhone, famed for its robust reds and elegant whites, as you explore renowned appellations like Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Hermitage. Arrive in Avignon, where the papal city's charming streets offer a perfect backdrop for savoring the region's diverse terroirs. Immerse yourself in the artistry of wine tasting, guided by passionate vintners eager to share their craft and stories.
Let every sip be a celebration of French viticulture, as you discover the magic of Burgundy and Côte du Rhone, with Lyon and Avignon as your enchanting interlude.
PERFECT FOR WINE LOVERS : this unique tour tailored to wine enthusiasts who are eager to learn a lot more about grapes, wine making methods, differences in wines, the importance of terroirs and climats.
Please make sure you arrive in Paris on Oct 1st, and depart from Paris on Oct 10, 2024. Should you wish to arrive earlier or depart later, we can easily provide you with pre and post nights in Paris.
Arrive at Paris CDG international Airport and independent transfer to your hotel. Check-in at Hotel Le Littré 4* located in the center of Paris (your room might not be ready before 3pm). Relax and refresh before our welcome dinner with typical french food, and wine of course.
After breakfast we will depart on a full-day tour to discover the highlights of Paris. Lunch is included at the Musee Du Vin after a tour & tasting. We will enjoy a relaxing Seine River cruise and a visit of the Montmartre area of Paris. Dinner at restaurant Cadet de Gascogne, with wine, before returning to Hotel Le Littré 4*.
Today, early departure from Paris towards Beaune. We'll stop in Chablis for a tasting at Chateau Long-Depaquit at 10:30am, followed by a lunch at Bistrot des Grands Crus, with wine. The visit at Chateau Long-Depaquit, a Bichot property, includes a tasting of 5 wines: one Chablis, two Chablis Premier Cru and two Chablis Grand Cru.
We'll then arrive in Beaune on time for one of the best visits you'll ever have in Burgundy Wine country. We'll enjoy the “Signature” tour of Cave Joseph Drouhin, at 4pm. This tasting includes 8 wines (4 whites and 4 reds):
Whites:
Chablis 1er Cru Mont de Milieu 2021
Saint Romain 2020
Meursault 1er Cru La Pièce sous le Bois 2020
Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru 2018
Reds:
Volnay 2018
Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches rouge 2021
Vosne Romanée 1er Cru 2020
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2017
At the end of the tour, we’ll reach the hotel on foot (2 min). Check-in at very centrally located Hotel Le Central 3* (for 2 nights). Dinner included in a local restaurant in Beaune, with wine. (your luggage will be transferred to the hotel during your visit of Drouhin)
Today, we’ll start the day with a visit of the world-famous Hospice of Beaune with a 1-hour guided tour. Then, it will be time to set out and enjoy the great wines of Burgundy. Our first tour & tasting at 11am is at Chateau Saint Aubin, which includes 5 wines including 2 Premier Cru, followed by lunch at the Restaurant Prosper located at Chateau Saint Aubin, with wine. In the afternoon, we continue our discovery with a “privilege” tour & Tasting at Domaine Riom, in Vosne-Romanée, at 3:30pm. This exquisite tour includes 5 wines: 3 villages, 1 Premier Cru and 1 Grand Cru.
Content, we'll return to the hotel in Beaune. The evening and dinner on your own tonight in Beaune.
We could not do this tour without tasting some of the best Beaujoloais wines. We'll first visit the wine tourist attraction: Hameau Deboeuf, with lunch on the spot. But at 3pm, we'll enjoy another extraordinary visit & tasting at Chateau des Jacques. This domaine, with its fantastic history, is notably known for owning a good part of the Moulin à Vent parcel. The tasting includes 5 wines, with one older vintage.
A short drive to Lyon and we'll check-in at hotel Mercure Saxe Lafayette 4* (for 2 nights). We'll have dinner at restaurant Daniel et Denise St Jean, a real Bouchon restaurant, with wine.
As we set out to visit the gastronomical capital of France, a must-see is Les Halles Bocuse (just 5 mins on foot from the hotel). We'll meet a local guide who will take us on a tour of the market and help us out with tasting some of the best local delicacies. Lunch will be on your own at Les Halles Bocuse, where you'll find so many options to choose from.
A two-hour guided walking tour of Lyon in the afternoon will help digest the wonderful local food:
From the church of Saint Paul to that of Saint Georges, Vieux-Lyon extends over 24 hectares along the banks of the Saône. The tour begins with a walk through the narrow cobbled alleyways! This guided tour reveals superbly renovated architectural treasures: internal courtyards, Italian-style galleries, wells, spiral staircases... Along the way you'll encounter essential monuments such as La Maison du Chamarier, the Hôtel de Gadagne or La Loge du Change. Explore the remains of the churches of Sainte Croix and Saint Etienne backing onto Saint Jean, which is truly symbolic of the power of the church in Lyon at that time. Our guide will tell you the secrets and anecdotes which have made the reputation of this historical district, the 1st preserved sector in France to have been inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List.
Enjoy dinner on your own (the restaurant at Hotel Mercure Saxe Lafayette is open on Sunday evenings).
The Rhone Wine area encompasses two distinct regions. In the Northern Rhone, we could not miss a Tour & Tasting at Domaine Cuilleron in Chavanay, followed by a two-course meal in a nearby village, with wine. Yves Cuilleron is very famous for having resurrected the Vins de Vienne, among other achievements. Still in Northern Rhone, but further south along the river, we'll enjoy a "prestige" tour & tasting at Terres de Syrah where the visit includes 5 wines from 5 different terroirs.
Upon arrival in Avignon, we will check-in to the Hotel De Cambis 4* (for 2 nights) and time to relax before dinner in a local restaurant in the center of town, with wine.
The Southern Rhone is home to one of the world-famous appellation "Chateauneuf-du-Pape". We could not miss visiting Pegau Winery at 10am, a tour that will make a huge impression on all of us, wine lovers. The tasting includes 1 Grand Cru. Lunch, with wine, will be served at Restaurant Verger du Pape, with a splendid view over the vineyards of Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
After about 1 hour, we'll arrive at the foot of Mount Ventoux, a mountain so important to the local wines. The staff at Chateau Pesquier will await our arrival at around 3pm. We'll discover the wines from the Ventoux appellation, and the dedication of the owners to explore the world of biodynamic winemaking.
Return to the hotel in Avignon and dinner on your own in town. The Hotel De Cambis does not have a restaurant.
A local guide will take us on a short 2-hour tour of Avignon, that will include a view of the Pope's Palace, before we head to the train station and hop on our TGV bound for Paris. We'll reach Paris in first class seats in just under 3 hours. Lunch on your own during the train ride.
On arrival, a quick transfer to Hotel Le Littré 4* where we settle, relax and refresh before our farewell dinner at Restaurant Chez Françoise, with wine.
Independent transfer to the airport for your flight home.
9 wineries of the most sought-after wines
Most of the tastings will include a Grand Cru
Tour is led by a WSET certified guide
Small group, with max 20 passengers
9 nights in centrally located hotels, including breakfast:
Hotel Le Littré 4*, https://hotellittreparis.com/fr/ (2 nights at the beginning, and 1night at the end of the trip)
Boutique-Hotel Le Central 3*, https://lecentralbeaune.com/ (2 nights)
Hotel Mercure de Saxe Lafayette 4*, https://all.accor.com/france/index.fr.shtml (2 nights)
Hotel De Cambis 4*, https://www.hoteldecambis.com/ (2 nights)
Ground transportation
English speaking WSET certified Tour Manager
Local English speaking guides
Meals, visits and wine tastings as per itinerary
1st class TGV tickets from Avignon to Paris