Wineries to visit in Bourgogne, particularly white
#1
Original Poster

Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Wineries to visit in Bourgogne, particularly white
I am interested in sampling whites on this trip. Are there certain wineries I should go to and do I need an appointment particularly in the Chablis area? The numbers are huge! Any suggestions will be appreciated. I am also interesting in the areas around Meursault. We are stying in Dijon and Beaune and will have a car and are in the area for 9 days.
Thanks for any suggestions and directions.
Thanks for any suggestions and directions.
#2

Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 12,849
Likes: 26
While I stayed in Beaune I booked a half-day tour at the tourist information office. There were 3 of us plus the driver/guide who spoke perfect English & was knowledgeable & articulate. He had a Jeep so we could drive into vineyards, a definite plus. Then we went to a tasting room in a winery, another reason to have a driver. It was easy, reasonably priced & fun. I recommend seeing what they have, much better, I think than going it alone, not to mention no worries about the tasting & driving part.
#3

Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 346
Likes: 0
Château Meursault for great tasting white wine. Look at: https://www.winetourism.com/experien...-in-meursault/ for some options.
#4
Original Poster

Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Wineries in Bourgogne
Hi all,
I thought I posted this yesterday, but I can't find it anywhere, so hopefully, I didn't!
My husband and I will be in the Bourgogne region for 7 days in October. I am exploring wine tastings. I'm hoping to get some recommendations from people about how to visit and taste from those that know a lot more than I do! I don't need a tour of the vineyards or really the cellar to see how the wine is made, but I would be interested in understanding the terroir and the wine's properties. I am particularly interested in white wines from the area. We are staying in Dijon and Beaune, but will have a car and can drive up to Chablis.
Thanks for any suggestions.
I thought I posted this yesterday, but I can't find it anywhere, so hopefully, I didn't!
My husband and I will be in the Bourgogne region for 7 days in October. I am exploring wine tastings. I'm hoping to get some recommendations from people about how to visit and taste from those that know a lot more than I do! I don't need a tour of the vineyards or really the cellar to see how the wine is made, but I would be interested in understanding the terroir and the wine's properties. I am particularly interested in white wines from the area. We are staying in Dijon and Beaune, but will have a car and can drive up to Chablis.
Thanks for any suggestions.
#5

Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 12,849
Likes: 26
Trending Topics
#8

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,768
Likes: 0
Hi BH,
Various & sundry:
-for whites, you might want to try the tasting at Olivier Leflaive's Domain in Puligny-Montrachet. Cold chicken lunch with half a dozen tastings of their various vintages. Ironically, we preferred the single Meursault that they'd mixed in as a foil of sorts. Of course, both of those white types were world-class.
-whites (cont.) Best value that we found was from our literal neighbor beside our Meursault rental (Monty Don fans--we rented from his lady producer)--Pascal Prunier Bonheur; he's up near the border between Meursault and Auxey-Duresses. His reds were also VG but his white Monthelie was incredible. *Full disclosure: he helped us out of a jam after our entry door lock seized up.
-in Beaune, Le Bistro Bourguignon on the main drag serves the best wine menu by the glass that we have ever seen: Gevry-Chambertin, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Pommard et al. The pinchmarks are still there. That was the first bistro in the area and the original owner couple just sold last year. Hopefully little will be changed by the new management.
-great daytrip from Dijon: Semur-en-Auxois.
-great hike: Volnay down to Meursault.
-great picnic site: the 'aire-de-pique-nique' just outside Beaune, a 5 min. walk past Park Bouzaizes.
Hope all goes well!
I am done. The end.
Various & sundry:
-for whites, you might want to try the tasting at Olivier Leflaive's Domain in Puligny-Montrachet. Cold chicken lunch with half a dozen tastings of their various vintages. Ironically, we preferred the single Meursault that they'd mixed in as a foil of sorts. Of course, both of those white types were world-class.
-whites (cont.) Best value that we found was from our literal neighbor beside our Meursault rental (Monty Don fans--we rented from his lady producer)--Pascal Prunier Bonheur; he's up near the border between Meursault and Auxey-Duresses. His reds were also VG but his white Monthelie was incredible. *Full disclosure: he helped us out of a jam after our entry door lock seized up.
-in Beaune, Le Bistro Bourguignon on the main drag serves the best wine menu by the glass that we have ever seen: Gevry-Chambertin, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Pommard et al. The pinchmarks are still there. That was the first bistro in the area and the original owner couple just sold last year. Hopefully little will be changed by the new management.
-great daytrip from Dijon: Semur-en-Auxois.
-great hike: Volnay down to Meursault.
-great picnic site: the 'aire-de-pique-nique' just outside Beaune, a 5 min. walk past Park Bouzaizes.
Hope all goes well!
I am done. The end.
Last edited by zebec; Sep 15th, 2023 at 10:02 PM.
#10



Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 30,676
Likes: 4
Burgundy is a big space with travel along its length relatively slow except along the motorway which is well set back from the best wine growing areas. If wanted to do this I'd either focus in the North where Chablis is the obvious focus though you could drop in a few oddities like Sauvignon which is grown in one AC. Or the south based around the Cote D'or.
Further south is well publicised and covered nicely above. The LeFlaive tasting is rightly well known and worth booking, but please don't think to drive after it. I have a vague memory of 12 wines and given French drinking law, your mouth will absorb too much booze even if you spit for you to pass them. (is Michael even still alive, after all those heart attacks?)
Based on the booze and (forgive me) the likelyhood of you being aware of where to visit, etc. I'd do a tour. Just don't try and cover too much ground, unless you do a lot of tastings you will find that after the first 18 wines it all just blends into a sea of white.
Further south is well publicised and covered nicely above. The LeFlaive tasting is rightly well known and worth booking, but please don't think to drive after it. I have a vague memory of 12 wines and given French drinking law, your mouth will absorb too much booze even if you spit for you to pass them. (is Michael even still alive, after all those heart attacks?)
Based on the booze and (forgive me) the likelyhood of you being aware of where to visit, etc. I'd do a tour. Just don't try and cover too much ground, unless you do a lot of tastings you will find that after the first 18 wines it all just blends into a sea of white.
Last edited by bilboburgler; Sep 15th, 2023 at 11:03 PM.
#12

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,768
Likes: 0
De rien BH.
Funny moment related to above @ Leflaive.
After bringing us glass #6, our clever young server asked my wife and I what we thought of the various vintages thus far. That no. 6 glass had actually been our fave (the aforementioned Meursault). We sheepishly told her our opinions and so without delay, she put on a stern face then pretended to remove all of our yet-to-be-used in the future empty glasses from our table in a mock indignant gesture.
Who says the French have no sense of humour? She was so funny that we nearly peed our pants from laughing so hard!
I am done. the grapes
Funny moment related to above @ Leflaive.
After bringing us glass #6, our clever young server asked my wife and I what we thought of the various vintages thus far. That no. 6 glass had actually been our fave (the aforementioned Meursault). We sheepishly told her our opinions and so without delay, she put on a stern face then pretended to remove all of our yet-to-be-used in the future empty glasses from our table in a mock indignant gesture.
Who says the French have no sense of humour? She was so funny that we nearly peed our pants from laughing so hard!
I am done. the grapes
#13

Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,837
Likes: 12
In Beaune, I did:
Marche aux Vins Using a tastevin (wine tasting cup) sample 15 wines in candle-lit former eglise des Cordeliers and its cellar. Takes about 1 hour. Finest wines are at the end. Look for the premier curs and grand cru. 2 rue Nicolas Rolin 10 euros for 15 wines!
9:30am - 11:30am and 2pm - 5:30pm
Cellier de la Vieille Grange Where locals buy in bulk for as little as 4.35 euros per litre for AOC wines. Tasting is done direct from barrels using a pipette! Sounds like a must do!!! 27 blvd Georges Cleminceau Wed - Sat: 9am - Noon and 2 - 7pm
By appt on Sun - Tue
Bouchard Pere & Fils Atmospheric cellars housed in former medieval fortress. Plenty of Grands Crus friom Cote de Nuits and Cote de Beaune 15 rue du Chateau Mon - Sat:10:00am - 12:30 and 2:30pm - 6:30pm
Sun: 10am - 12:30pm
Patriarche Pere et Fils Largest cellars in Burgundy. 5 rue du College Audioguide tour - 13 euros
9:30 - 11:30 and 2pm - 5:30pm
Visitors sample 13 wines and take tastevin home
Bouchard Alne Since 1753, offers best traditional cellar tour and intro to tasting. Stops at several stations to taste as you visit On the ring road at 4 boulevard Marechal Foch 9.50 euros
Daily bilingual tours usually at 10:30, 11:30, 2:30, 3:30, 4:30 and 5:30pm
www. Bouchard-aine.fr
Domaine Lois Dufouleur Family run cellar, beautiful 8 blvd Bretonniere 8 euros for 4 wines
Call ahead for easy to get appt
Les Mille et une Vigne Tourist-free wine bar, old-time ambience and local characters. Good selection of wines by glass at fair prices 61 rue de Lorraine
Nearby Beaune:
La Cave de Pommard Tastings are free and easygoing, prices are reasonable (bottles 5 - 65 euros, most 15 - 20 euros)
Ask to visit small caves below 2 miles from Beaune - 3 route de Beaune
Follow signs for Chalon sur Saone, then Autun. Cellars are on rightjust after Chateau de Pommard's long wall; park in village and walk back Free (expected to buy a bottle or two)
Daily 10am - 7pm,
Caveau de Puligny Montrachet Wine bar-like tasting room. Great selection of white wine vintners, nice outdoor terrace 10 min south of Beaune in Puligny Montrachet on scenic route to Chateau de la Rochepot 10 euros for 5 wines, free if you buy 6 bottles
This info is quite old now, from when I was there in 2016, so I’d check before going!
Marche aux Vins Using a tastevin (wine tasting cup) sample 15 wines in candle-lit former eglise des Cordeliers and its cellar. Takes about 1 hour. Finest wines are at the end. Look for the premier curs and grand cru. 2 rue Nicolas Rolin 10 euros for 15 wines!
9:30am - 11:30am and 2pm - 5:30pm
Cellier de la Vieille Grange Where locals buy in bulk for as little as 4.35 euros per litre for AOC wines. Tasting is done direct from barrels using a pipette! Sounds like a must do!!! 27 blvd Georges Cleminceau Wed - Sat: 9am - Noon and 2 - 7pm
By appt on Sun - Tue
Bouchard Pere & Fils Atmospheric cellars housed in former medieval fortress. Plenty of Grands Crus friom Cote de Nuits and Cote de Beaune 15 rue du Chateau Mon - Sat:10:00am - 12:30 and 2:30pm - 6:30pm
Sun: 10am - 12:30pm
Patriarche Pere et Fils Largest cellars in Burgundy. 5 rue du College Audioguide tour - 13 euros
9:30 - 11:30 and 2pm - 5:30pm
Visitors sample 13 wines and take tastevin home
Bouchard Alne Since 1753, offers best traditional cellar tour and intro to tasting. Stops at several stations to taste as you visit On the ring road at 4 boulevard Marechal Foch 9.50 euros
Daily bilingual tours usually at 10:30, 11:30, 2:30, 3:30, 4:30 and 5:30pm
www. Bouchard-aine.fr
Domaine Lois Dufouleur Family run cellar, beautiful 8 blvd Bretonniere 8 euros for 4 wines
Call ahead for easy to get appt
Les Mille et une Vigne Tourist-free wine bar, old-time ambience and local characters. Good selection of wines by glass at fair prices 61 rue de Lorraine
Nearby Beaune:
La Cave de Pommard Tastings are free and easygoing, prices are reasonable (bottles 5 - 65 euros, most 15 - 20 euros)
Ask to visit small caves below 2 miles from Beaune - 3 route de Beaune
Follow signs for Chalon sur Saone, then Autun. Cellars are on rightjust after Chateau de Pommard's long wall; park in village and walk back Free (expected to buy a bottle or two)
Daily 10am - 7pm,
Caveau de Puligny Montrachet Wine bar-like tasting room. Great selection of white wine vintners, nice outdoor terrace 10 min south of Beaune in Puligny Montrachet on scenic route to Chateau de la Rochepot 10 euros for 5 wines, free if you buy 6 bottles
This info is quite old now, from when I was there in 2016, so I’d check before going!





