Noble Vineyards of France - Champagne, Burgundy and Bordeaux 13 Days
This exquisite Epicurean Focus trip for the taste buds traces the lineage of some of the most prestigious and famous wines in Europe and thus the world through the three regions of Champagne, Burgundy and Bordeaux.
We'll start with three days in Paris to acclimatise and visit some of the less common highlights the city has to offer. Many people have visited Paris before so this is really an in-depth opportunity to learn more about the Hidden Gems and in your free time to return to any of your favourites, or visit for the first time any attractions on your wish list.
On Day 4 we'll head to Epernay (one of the two capitals of Champagne) and stay for two nights, allowing us time to visit some of the bigger but exclusive names and famous Champagne houses such as Pol Roger, Louis Roederer and Deutz and also getting a chance to get out amongst the vines and dine al fresco with bubbles and warm local hospitality in a relaxed setting.
Being France, the food in the region is truly fantastic - the tradition locally to match each course with a different style of Champagne all the way from dry to sweet. One of the highlights is getting to meet a "remueur" or bottle turner, in the chalk tunnels where the wine is stored and aged, allowing us an insight into this ancient tradition. We'll also visit the famous Cathedral in Reims, where French Kings were once ceremoniously crowned.
Pointing south from Champagne, it's only a short skip to the northern Burgundy region of Chablis, offering us some of the finest opportunities to sample the best Chardonnay on the planet. We'll sample Grand Cru and Premier Cru Appellations and draw some comparisons and contrasts with Champagne. Onwards to Pinot Noir country south of us to the Cotes de Nuit and Cotes St. Georges - we are now in the region known for its "Boeuf Bourgignon", hearty stews and stunning historic villages. Pinot Noir is native to the region and is known as the "King of Red Wines." Here we'll have a chance to head to explore the vineyards of famous family growers for Domaines such as Romanee Conti.
A couple of days in Burgundy brings us south to Lyon where we'll have the chance to sample an ample amout of culture in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Lyon is the food capital of France, not Paris. The famous Paul Bocuse and many more Michelin starred chefs have had restaurants in this city whose architecture is spellbinding. It's the third largest city of France with no shortage of culture and sightseeing to absorb. It's on two rivers, the Rhone and the Saone. This is the city of dreamers, romantics and bon-vivants.
From Lyon, we'll head south west to the home of Claret, the place the Appellation Controllee system was developed by Napoleon Bonaparte in order to classify wines into geographical areas based on the quality and type of wine they were producing. We'll visit the Musee du Vin (World's Best Wine Musuem) and the recently re-developed city centre of Bordeaux, another stunning French city. A day trip to nearby St. Julien and St. Estephe will allow us to encounter some of the imporant names in the Bordeaux Wine World and we'll get to visit vineyards to learn more about Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot.
In terms of sweet wine and white wine here, it's all about Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc. There will be a day trip to Cognac and to Armagnac where we'll visit some producers, have lunch and return to Bordeaux to end the tour with a farewell dinner and a roundup of all the great places we've visited.
Itinerary and Specifics
Highlights:
- Try some of the best food and wine in the world
- Gain entrance to wine Domains and Chateaux that under normal circumstances would be almost impossible to access
- Gain deep knowledge about the grapes, the cultivation, the agening, the bottling, the marketing and the markets for these exclusive and premium wines
- Understand the science behind the grape
- Meet some incredible local people whose families have been in the wine business for several generations
- Leave refreshed, educated, informed and seeking to come back for more.
Included:
- 4 Star Deluxe Accommodations on a Bed and Breakfast Basis
- Meet and Greet at Airport
- Transfers to and from hotel
- Expert driver/guide with total fluency of English and a lot of experience to accommodate your needs.
- Comfortable touring vehicle
- Local knowledge, recommendations and help with any bookings you want to make
- Porterage - 1 piece per person in and out of hotels
Not included:
- Flights - purchase your own flights in and out of destination
- Gratuities minimum recommended $20 per person per day
- Lunches and Dinners - we like our guests to be able to choose their own dining options. We'll recommened the best places for your requirements.
- Any entrances to museums, attractions and concerts
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive at Charles de Gaulle International Airport Paris, Meet and Greet with transfer to Paris hotel. Local guide to do a walking tour of an area that he/she thinks is undiscovered and underappreciated. We'll also do a panoramic tour in the touring vehicle so your memories of the City of Light come flashing back. Check into your centrally located hotel for three nights.
Day 2
Today is a day where our guide will liaise with the group and find out what they wish to do with their services and the vehicle. There are so many options avalailable in Paris and its region, lots of ideas will be proposed and the group and the team make a decision to see what they haven't fully uncovered yet. Our Paris guide is a total expert in architecture, sculpture, art, food and wine and much more. Some of our own favourite areas are Les Invalides, La Rive Gauche, Parthenon, Montmartre, Champs de Mars, Les Tuilleries and La Tour Eiffel.
Day 3
Today is a day to explore your own interests in Paris, dine where you wish to dine, see the musuem you never got to see or if you haven't been on the Metro and out to Versailles why not do that? Of course, there's loads of evening shows to see in Paris and our team here can help you organise tickets for those or get into a nice restaurant with enough notice.
Day 4
Today we're over to Champagne and in particular to Epernay. We'll stop on the way for cultural exploration and have a nice lunch. We'll get to know Epernay and pick up our local guide for an understanding of the region.
Day 5
We're in Champagne exploring the magnificent terroir and the three grapes that go into it's production : Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. There will be time to explore Reims Cathedral and the charming small city of Epernay. We will of course have appointments to fulfill at different Maisons - fully guided private tours with tasting room experience and a flight of different wines to try.
Day 6
We're over to Chablis in Northern Burgundy and we're exploring what makes this region so special and why this Chardonnay is considered the world's best for many people. We continue down to Northern Burgundy for a couple of nights in this idylic area full of charm and character.
Day 7
We explore the best vineyards and "caves" of Northern Burgundy, trying some excellent Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. We'll employ the services of a local guide to bring us to the best areas as travellers, not just wine aficionados. Tonight we're on our last night here before heading south to the middle of France.
Day 8
Today we head for Lyon and spend three nights in the culinary capital of France. This is the French crossroads of North, South and Mountain culture. So you've got the best of ingredients and influences: wild game, beef, lamb and many more meats aside. We find Lyon to be one of the most romantic and enjoyable cities in Europe. The classical 19th century buildings are certainly a rival for Paris.
Day 9
Today we'll do some sightseeting in Lyon with our local guide and they'll also do a walking tour. You'll be certainly impressed by the history, architecture and relaxing feeling of the city. They really know how to enjoy life here.
Day 10
We head now to Toulouse and explore some of the culinary delights and history of this famously beautiful and open-minded city. Overnight in Toulouse or as the French call it "La Ville Rose."
Day 11
We travel to Bordeaux where we stay for two nights and explore some of the most famous Chateaux and wines in the world. We'll visit the famous Musee du Vin or "Wine Musuem" in the centre of Bordeaux which has one many awards for its content and architecture.
Day 12
Today we're off to St. Estephe and St. Julien for some private appointments at a renowned Chateaux. We'll meet the makers and see what it is that excites so many people about these Grand Cru Classes wines.
Day 13
Your connoisseur trip ends here in Bordeaux and we hope you've enjoyed experiencing the best food and wine on the planet. We hope you'll leave having asked so many questions, having tasted, sampled and lived the history of France and returning with a new perspective on life, both rural and urban in continental Europe.