cornelius01

We are in a dilemma as to which wine region to train to from Reims as that is where we will start to tour in Champagne. We are thinking taking train to Beune, Dijon or Jura. any suggestions? We will not have a car if we can help it....going to rely on trains and taxis.

traveller1959

The very best place is Beaune, the "wine capital" of Bourgogne, and a most charming town. Beaune's main attraction is the ancient hospital (Hospices de Beaune) which is now a museum. The hospital is also winery because it got its revenues from their own vineyards.
IMO, the best way to experience wines from Bourgogne is a visit to Marché aux Vins:
www.marcheauxvins.com
It is a very unique experience, and you can taste about 25 different wines, serving yourself with a tastevin. Furthermore, you will enjoy a very special atmosphere, because the tasting will be in a cave and in a former church. A most stylish way to get drunk.
One of the oldest vineyards in Bourgogne is Clos Vougeot and I recommend visiting the Castle:
www.closdevougeot.fr/en
Besides these two experiences, you find a lot of dealers and wineries in Beaune and in the surrounding villages.
Beaune is easy to reach by train.

FrenchMystiqueTours

I recently commented on a post about champagne and wine in the Champagne and Burgundy regions and you might find some useful links on that thread to do some research:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-in-france.cfm

bilboburgler

Well the Jura would be of interest to the experts of Vin Jaune and Vin de Paille, which if you are, then go but for most people not an obvious stop.

The obvious places to pop across to are the Pfalz, the Mosel or the Alsace wine regions, mainly whites and mainly Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc each very different but physically very close and an easy public transport jump.

Burgundy is pretty well spread out but great fun for a visit

AlessandraZoe

If you take the train to Beaune, you can stop on the way in Dijon for a spit. We liked their art museum there.

Then onto Beaune. Everything is just so accessible. Tours abound, car rentals are available, and bikes are available for the no-brainer bike trails.

His_Dudeness

Beaune is a perfect place to base yourself for Burgundy and if you have the budget for it, Hotel Le Cep is one of the finest places we have ever stayed. I would recommend a car as there are numerous small villages that are worth visiting that are not accessible by train.

StCirq

You really should go to the region that makes the wine you like to drink the most. I agree that Beaune makes a great wine stop for anyone without a car, but hope you realize that the only way to really experience viticulture in France is by driving, or at least being willing to do a lot of biking. Otherwise, you're just tasting.

bilboburgler

Good point StC, Mosel has the best public transport options between tastings and likely accomodations (bike, bus, train, boat), Alsace is the second best as the tasting areas are more or less along a road/bike path with buses along most of it. Burgundy is probably the third easiest to get around though the North (Chablis/Auxerre etc) are a distance away. Pfalz can be done by bike and some buses.