Rhone & Burgundy
Going up the stream of legendary wines
Day 1
Essence of Provence
Day 1 – Your today’s highlights
Welcome to France! This morning we will come to pick you up at your hotel in Marseille, ready to start a great adventure into one of the most celebrated wine regions of this beautiful country. We’ll start by exploring one of the most impressive wine estates in Provence, Château La Coste, where we will visit a highly original art exhibition spread out over the vineyard. This stunning contemporary art exhibition will surprise you and awaken your senses, leaving you ready for a lovely lunch in Château’s restaurant where the meal will be accompanied by their finest wines.
FEATURED THEME : Curating your stay
After lunch, we will head to the ancient papal city of Avignon, world famous for its papal palace and the ruins of its 12th century bridge: Le pont d’Avignon… we will discover this amazing town with our local guide who will reveal the conspiracies, plots and mysteries that make the history of this legendary history so interesting.
FEATURED THEME : Folklore and heritage
There we will take up quarters in one of the most impressive buildings in town, literally at the foot of the papal palace: “Hôtel la Mirande”, whose foundations date back to 1309, and which hosts an impressive collection of French classical paintings.
Tonight, we will taste the bistro cuisine of chef Florent Pietravalle in his restaurant “La Salle à Manger”.
FEATURED THEME : Carpe Diem, the quintessential gourmet
Hotel 5 stars
La Mirande
Day 1
Everyday a new Château!
Day 2 – Your today’s highlights
Leaving Avignon, we will head to one of the pillars of French wine regions: Châteauneuf du Pape. A huge variety of grapes has been cultivated there since the Roman Empire and the wines of the region are deservedly some of the most renowned in the world. There we will meet the Reynault family who have been producing some of the region’s finest wine for more than 4 generations. They’ll take us on a tour around their estate and invite us to sample some of their choicest bottles.
FEATURED THEME : Wine is a bottled poem
For lunch, we will head to the nearby town of Châteauneuf-du-Pape where we will try the local cuisine at Laurent Manson’s “La Table des Vignerons” restaurant. This young local chef will prepare for us his best dishes in his cozy restaurant right in the heart of the medieval town.
FEATURED THEME : Carpe Diem, the quintessential gourmet
For dessert, we will walk up through the village to a fabulous ice-cream parlor with one of the best views over the Rhône valley and savor a moment of sweetness from above.
FEATURED THEME : Folklore and heritage
Tonight we sleep in the Monoir le Roure, a castle situated in a beautiful park with fountains and centuries-old trees. A simply magical place.
At a stone’s throw from our hotel, Florence & Eric will host us in their lovely 18th-century house for a dinner prepared with the finest products and seasonal vegetables from their own garden, and we will enjoy our meal on the terrace of this charming restaurant.
FEATURED THEME : Carpe Diem, the quintessential gourmet
Hotel
Manoir La Roure
Day 1
Côtes du Rhône unveil their secrets for you
Day 3 – Your today’s highlights
This morning after breakfast we will head north to Tain-l’Hermitage and the estate of one the finest winegrowers of the Rhône valley, the Maison Chapoutier. Michel Chapoutier likes to call himself a daredevil. He plants his vines in the most unlikely places and often where most winegrowers would be daunted. You will enjoy a 90-minute visit to discover the estate, and enjoy sampling Michel’s five different wines.
FEATURED THEME : Wine is a bottled poem
We will then move on to the picturesque medieval village of Malleval. Set upon a rock surrounded by vineyards, this small town has an authentic Bistrot where we will have our lunch.
FEATURED THEME : Folklore and heritage
In the afternoon, we will have the opportunity to get to better understand this complex wine region by visiting the Domaine Montez, a domain of 24 hectares and three appellations, where the Montez family have been planting, vinifying, and selling their wines since the 16th century. During the tasting, you will appreciate the considerable aromatic richness of these great wines. Close by, the Domaine Degache & Frères will be our hosts for another session of wine tasting where we will appreciate the work of 3 generations of winemakers.
FEATURED THEME : Wine is a bottled poem
Then we will drive you to the lovely town of Vonnas, where we will settle for the night in the 5 stars Relais & Château George Blanc, where you will enjoy its Spa and its excellent restaurant for dinner.
Hotel 5 stars
Georges Blanc
Day 1
A network of legendary crus
Day 4 – Your today’s highlights
Now we finally enter the region of Burgundy and we won’t take long to go to the best estates it has to offer. The Route des Grands Crus is the kind of road you want to follow: from Gevrey-Chambertin to Chassagne Montrachet via Vosne-Romanée, all those famous names will finally become reality to you. Stroll through the vineyards and learn about the mythical plots of land classified as Grands Crus: Romanée Conti, Richebourg, La Tâche, Echezeaux, Chambertin, Clos de Vougeot, Corton-Charlemagne, and Montrachet. A must for a complete oenological trip. There is a private visit to a famous estate in Côte de Beaune for a great tasting of different vintages. On this occasion, you will also meet the winemaker. We will have a Grands Crus lunch at the Estate in Côte de Beaune or Côte de Nuits with a selection of the owner’s Pinots Noirs and great white wines classified as Premiers Crus and Grands Crus. Food and wine pairings with a regional menu consisting of 3 courses, including local cheeses. Visit the cellars between oak barrels and old vintages after lunch.
FEATURED THEME : Wine is a bottled poem
Wine is a bottled poemTonight the 5-star establishment, named L’Hôtel de Beaune, will serve us as a lodge. The hotel, situated in the heart of Beaune, is an old bourgeois house dating from the 19th century.
Our evening continues at the exclusive and gourmet restaurant Hostellerie Cèdre, where we will enjoy an unforgettable dinner.
FEATURED THEME : Carpe Diem, the quintessential gourmet
Hotel 5 stars
Hôtel de Beaune
Day 1
Gourmet's gourmet
Day 5 – Your today’s highlights
We hope you’re ready today to enjoy a Gourmet Tour and to taste Burgundy’s local gastronomy. You will enjoy five tasting stops to savour the local specialties; their finest “charcuterie” (cold cuts) and cheeses, macaroons, chocolate, bread and much more…Depending on the season, your guide can accompany you to the local Farmer’s market in a village by the vineyards or the famous Halles in Dijon or to a local farm. You will discover regional delicacies such as truffle products, Pain d’épices (local gingerbread), blackcurrant, Flavigny Abbaye sweets (anise) and of course the world-famous Moutarde de Dijon.
FEATURED THEME : Carpe Diem, the quintessential gourmet
Carpe Diem, the quintessential gourmetWe will finish the day with a comprehensive wine tasting including superb white wines & Pinot Noirs of which several Grand Crus. Taste the selection of bread, cheeses, cold cuts, chocolates… in a special wine and food pairing introduction.
FEATURED THEME : Wine is a bottled poem
Tonight we will have a light Dinner at the gourmet restaurant in the beautiful center of Beaune.
FEATURED THEME : Carpe Diem, the quintessential gourmet
Hotel 5 stars
Hôtel de Beaune
Day 1
Au revoir les amis
Day 6 – Your today’s highlights
Transfer to Dijon, one of France’s most attractive cities with its elegant medieval and Renaissance buildings; stroll through the historic centre to discover the half- timbered houses and polychrome tile roofs. You will enjoy a 2 hour Historic Walking Tour to discover the architectural features of Burgundy’s capital. Be sure to visit the wonderful market, “Les Halles”, even if only to feast your eyes. You will be fascinated by its warm and friendly atmosphere and by the multitude of regional products.
FEATURED THEME : Folklore and heritage
Hotel 5 stars
La Mirande
Hotels
Hotel La Mirande : Avignon
Located in a sumptuous palace from the 16th century, Hotel La Mirande might be one of the most representative establishments for french art de vivre and elegance. Their collection of impressionist paintings, its wonderfully manicured gardens, or the 2 Michelin star restaurant represents the quintessential of a long tradition in the art of hosting that France has honed over the centuries.
Hotel manoir le Roure : Montélimar
The Manoir Le Roure is ideally located in the heart of the Drôme region in a natural and true green setting. The Manoir Le Roure is indeed a haven of peace where you feel far from it all. However, the hotel is only 2 minutes from Montélimar. It is therefore easily accessible whether you come by car, train or helicopter if you want to. This ancient manor has everything to charm you with its nearly 4 hectares of lawns and 80 species of trees and shrubs, that awaits you for relaxing walks.
Hotel Relais & Chateaux 5 stars Georges Blanc
In Vonnas, Georges Blanc, emblematic Chef and visionary businessman, has developed a veritable Gourmet Village on the river bank, around a reconstruction of the inn of his great grandparents. Together with his family, Blanc constantly reinvents Bresse specialties through creations such as the “crêpe vonnassienne” with salmon and caviar or the legendary Bresse chicken with foie gras. Visits are available upon request to one of the five most exceptional cellars in the world, with more than 135,000 bottles. In just under five hectares of grounds, discover a heavenly spa, an aquatic space next to a pond and a large, landscaped park that is illuminated at night.
L’Hotel de Beaune
L’Hôtel de Beaune is an exceptional luxuriously restored XIXth century house with its own courtyard. Set in the heart of Beaune, it offers the highest standard of comfort and service. The Hotel is renowned for its privacy and the personalized service it gives to guests.
