France
Burgundy
boor-GOAN-yuh
Pinot and Chardonnay in villages you can walk. Tasting is not a business the way Napa is. You get in because someone said yes.
Map
- When to go
- May–June and September. November is grey and half-shut. Hospices weekend is not a casual visit.
- Grapes
- Pinot Noir · Chardonnay · Aligoté · Gamay
Tasting rooms
Domaines are houses, not tasting rooms. Write the négociants (Drouhin, Jadot, Bouchard) if you need a door that opens. Beaune is the base. Don't expect a flight of Grands Crus for a fee on a Saturday.
Maison Joseph Drouhin
Beaune
Bookdroo-AN
Cellars under Beaune. A négociant that still farms. English tours exist.
Book through the house. The most realistic first tasting.
Pinot Noir · Chardonnay · Beaune Clos des Mouches if they pour it
Bouchard Père & Fils
Beaune
Bookboo-SHAR
Another Beaune cellar that receives people. Useful when domaines say no.
Appointment. Pair with the town.
Pinot Noir · Chardonnay · Beaune Grèves or a village Meursault
Louis Jadot
Beaune
Bookzhah-DOH
Large, organized, still Burgundy. Couvent des Jacobins.
Easier than a four-barrel domaine. Book.
Pinot Noir · Chardonnay · Couvent des Jacobins or a village Puligny
Domaine de la Vougeraie
Premeaux
Bookvoo-zhuh-RAY
Organic domaine south of Nuits. Closer to a real cellar visit.
Appointment, small. Don't be late.
Pinot Noir · Chardonnay · A village or premier cru from the domaine
Hospices de Beaune
Beaune
Walk-inos-PEESS duh BONE
The hospital, not a winery. Go anyway. Then drink in town.
Museum ticket. The wine is the auction, not a bar.
Pinot Noir · Chardonnay · The building. Drink in town after.
Domaines Jean Durup
Maligny
BookDomaines Jean Durup
Large independent Chablis grower. The château is Maligny, the wine is Chablis.
Write the domaine. Chablis is a different day from Beaune.
Chardonnay · Domaines Jean Durup
Domaine Gueguen
Chablis
BookDomaine Gueguen
Village caveau. They walk you through the appellations, then you taste.
Book the visit. Stay in Chablis if you can.
Chardonnay · Domaine Gueguen
Itinerary
Beaune, then one Côte
2 days
Sleep in Beaune. One négociant cellar. One drive — Côte de Beaune villages or Côte de Nuits, not both in a day.
Day 1, morning
Hospices de Beaune
The building. Then coffee.
Day 1, afternoon
Drouhin or Bouchard
A cellar that will actually pour.
Day 2
Meursault–Puligny or Vosne–Nuits
Look at the walls. One appointment if you have it. Lunch in the village.
Grand Cru on a sign is a vineyard, not an invitation. Don't climb the rows. Most domaines ignore cold-call emails in harvest.
Business inquiries
Have a room in Burgundy?
Featured placement, your booking link, ninety days. Drinkers stay free.
Business inquiries