A photo of The Best Wine Tasting Tours in Burgundy.

Burgundy
wine tasting tours and winery visits

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Why Visit Burgundy?

Burgundy, or Bourgogne if you’re French, needs no introduction for wine aficionados and is one of the best places for a wine tasting holiday. This legendary wine region boasts a centuries-long viticultural history that, rather surprisingly, involved monks maintaining the earliest vineyards and dedicating their time to understanding wine production. Today, Burgundy is home to some of the most prestigious names in winemaking (none of whom are monks) and over 80 designated AOC areas – the most AOCs in the whole of France. Could there be any where better for a wine tasting tour?

WINE TASTING TOURS IN BURGUNDY
Revered amongst wine lovers, Burgundy’s Côte D’Or region – which translates as ‘Golden Slope’ – produces some of the world’s most sought after and expensive wines. A landscape of vineyards interspersed with villages stretches from Côte de Nuits in the north to Côte de Beaune in the south. Each climat (plots of vine) is remarkably distinct, which has led to the region being granted UNESCO World Heritage status. The best way to get to grips with the complexity of Côte D’Or wines is to take a guided wine tasting tour from the historic capital of Dijon or the nearby town of Beaune.   

FOOD TASTING EXPERIENCES IN BURGUNDY
It’s not all about wine: Burgundy is also a mecca for foodies and an excellent place to enjoy a food tasting tour. Mouth-watering regional produce includes Charolais – considered to be the best quality beef in the country, an array of fantastic cheeses such as the renowned Epoisses, and Dijon mustard (of course!) Local specialities such as Boeuf Bourguignon, Coq au Vin and Oeufs en Meurette, unsurprisingly, utilise the magnificent local wines. As does the much-loved local escargot dish. If you’ve never eaten snails, this is the best place to try them!  

MORE REASONS TO VISIT BURGUNDY
When you’re not sipping Chablis and snacking on snails, take time to appreciate Burgundy’s rich and colourful history. The region is awash with Benedictine monasteries and Gothic cathedrals, magnificent chateaux, and charming hilltop villages. Dijon is a beautiful, well preserved city to potter around and enjoy a leisurely lunch. Another not-to-be-missed sight is the historical Hospices de Beaune. Winerist can arrange private and group tours that intersperse wine tasting with cultural highlights.   

WINERIST INSIDER TIP
Don’t expect to turn up to a Burgundy winery for a tasting session without an appointment. Advance bookings are highly recommended. 

Plan Your Visit

Best Known Grapes

The most notable grape varieties grown in the Burgundy region are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir grapes are used exclusively to create Burgundy’s signature powerful, complex red wines; Chardonnay grapes provide the depth of flavour and aroma for signature White Burgundy.  Other grapes including the red grape, Gamay, and the white grape Aligote, are grown in much smaller quantities.
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Best time to visit

The best times of year to visit Burgundy are during the spring and autumn months, when the landscape is at its most picturesque, the weather is favourable, and you will avoid the busy summer holiday season. The weather is perfect for visiting the region’s historical sights, enjoying leisurely lunches in Dijon, and cycling through the countryside stopping at vineyards en-route. If you’re keen to witness the grape harvest or get involved in traditional wine making events, you’ll need to visit Burgundy during the autumn months. During the summer months of July and August the temperatures can reach the mid 20°Cs. During the winter months the average temperature can drop to around 0°C.
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How long to stay

The wine region of Burgundy is quite spread out, so when planning a wine holiday in Burgundy we recommend a minimum of four days. This will give you enough time to explore the delightful town of Dijon, the wine capital of Beaune and enjoy an introduction to the region’s renowned vineyards. However, wine connoisseurs who are looking for a complete exploration of Burgundy wines and full immersion into the history of this iconic wine destination, will find it extremely easy to spend a week or more touring the appellations. 
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How to get there

If you plan to travel by plane, the closest airports to the Burgundy wine region are the Paris airports of Charles de Gaulle and Orly, Geneva Airport and Lyon Saint Expury. All are connected to Burgundy with motorway and / or TGV rail links. An efficient rail network connects Dijon with the rest of France. From Paris, there are several daily train departures, and the journey is a speedy 1 hour and 40 minutes, where you can take a connecting train to Beaune if needed. Dijon also has direct TGV links to Lyon, Valence, Marseille, and Charles De Gaulle airport, as well as several destinations in Switzerland. During your stay in the Burgundy region the easiest way to get around is by car. Exploring by car offers the opportunity to travel at your own pace and discover those out-of-the-way chateaux and villages.  
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