Burgundy and Provence: A Culinary & Wine Vacation
A “Grand Cru” 9-11 Night Culinary & Wine Vacation
On this 9 to 11-night culinary and wine vacation, you will experience magic in Burgundy, France. You will stay 4 nights in Burgundy and 5/7 nights in the Luberon, Provence. You will make your way between chateaux, vineyards, historic towns, and wine shops for a taste of France’s most prized regions. This is a rare opportunity to immerse yourself in local life and get a taste of high-end French cuisine. Whether you want to tour the vineyards, sample local produce, join a cooking class with a chef’s hat on your head, or relax by one of the many natural spas around the region you are looking at an experience that is unforgettable.
Discover France
Your story of Burgundy and Provence begins with an exploration of the region’s wines, cuisine, and winemakers’ culture. You will have the chance to meet local vintners and winemakers, visit vineyards, and taste samples from the region’s best wine.
Day 1
Arrive in Dijon, where you’ll be picked up by private transport and given a tour of Burgundy’s historic parts of town. You’ll then visit the public cistern and clock tower in Beaune, where you’ll taste wines from the Cote de Beaune and Cote de Nuits. You’ll try whites: Rully, Meursault village, 1er cru followed by a Grand Cru white. Reds: Pommard 1er cru, a Gevry Chambertin 1er cru and Volnay or Chambolle Musigny. After a private tour of 14th century wine cellars and barrel tasting at a boutique winery with the owner, you’ll have dinner at the winery’s restaurant.
Day 2
Enjoy wine and cheese pairing in a private wine cellar led by a sommelier with a second tasting to focus on winemakers, and their impact on terroir. Enjoy wines from Topinot Merme, Lucien La Moine, Amiot, Jacques Prieure from top notch wineries. Taste cheeses like Delice de Bourgogne, Citeaux (made for over 400 years by the monks of that abbey), the world’s finest Comte cheese produced by Marcel Petit and truffle stuffed brie. Later, get a private tour of two famous reds vineyards with a focus on Grand Crus including visits to monopoles in the region.
Day 3
Visit the Côte d’Or region of Burgundy to focus on the world-famous white wines. You’ll visit famous vineyards for tastings and touring. You’ll taste Chassagne-Montrachet, Grand Cru Corton Charlemagne, Puligny-Montrachet 1er cru La Garenne, and two very special small batch wines––one 1er cru red, specially produced with only 2 barrels made annually and the other a rare white 1er cru bordering the famed plot of Montrachet. Enjoy a three-course farm-to-table gastronomic bistro lunch or dinner with three to four paired wines.
Day 4
In the morning, you can shop or bike ride before enjoying a wine tasting. You’ll taste old vintage wines such as an 1855 classified Bordeaux and vintage Burgundies from 1973. Don’t forget to have dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant, where the chef will prepare a special meal and pair it with three delicious wines.
Day 5
Depart for Provence in the afternoon. Transfer to Provence and arrive late in the afternoon. Check in to your luxury inn perched on a medieval village and explore the town on an orientation walking tour with dinner and wine tasting afterward.
Day 6
Take a morning walk through an ancient perched village, home to less than 100 locals. Enjoy lunch at a local bistro featuring homemade specialties. The restaurant will be closed for us and we’ll have a special three-course menu of Provencal dishes. Visit a chic artist enclave, with galleries, shops and a restored chateau that’s now a private residence.
Day 7
Enjoy a morning of tasting and touring at a beautiful French market. Learn about the local foods and seasonal treats. Sample top wines from Chateauneuf du Pape and other regions, along with Bandol roses and Cote du Rhone wines such as Gigondas, Carainne, Vacqueras, Crozes Hermitage… Perhaps you can explore Priorat in Spain or Tuscan wines as well.
Day 8
Visit a historic auberge in Provence and tour the 2,000-year-old ruins and enjoy a 3-course lunch in a Michelin-starred restaurant with a chef who is a longtime friend. Wine pairings are included.
Day 9
Depart to Avignon TGV station with an exclusive private transfer (1 per 6 people)
Optional Day 10 & 11
TBD according to travelers interests. This might include olive oil tastings, village visits, winery visits, art and art galleries, cooking demos or lessons or time on your own to relax.