Beaune & the Wines of Burgundy 2012 

We travel on the Eurostar to Paris, where we change on to the high-speed TGV via Dijon to Beaune, the celebrated wine capital of Burgundy. Beaune has an attractive Old Town, clustered with ramparts, beautiful buildings and pretty squares. Wine production has shaped the town, underneath which lies an incredible network of centuries-old stone passageways and cellars, filled with millions of bottles of wine. We spend six nights at the 4-star Mercure Beaune. (E,D)

This morning we enjoy a guided walking tour of Beaune's charming, compact centre. During the tour we visit the famous Hôtel Dieu, or Hospices de Beaune, with its distinctive roof of multi-coloured diamond tiles. Founded in 1443, today it is a fascinating museum which hosts an annual wine auction, hosted by Christies and attended by merchants from all over the world. Your afternoon is free to explore Beaune at leisure. (B,D)

Today we enjoy a full-day tasting tour of the world-renowned wine region surrounding Beaune and Dijon. We are joined by an expert local guide, trained at the Universitaire de la Vigne et du Vin Jules Guyot. During the tour and tastings, our guide will educate us on wine production in the region and give a real insight into the many celebrated fine wines of the area. We enjoy three-course lunch with wine in a local village restaurant before continuing our tour. Day 4 is free for you to spend at leisure in Beaune. (Day 3-B,L; Day 4-B)

Today we enjoy a full-day wine tasting tour, travelling to the region south of Beaune. Accompanied by our local guide, we enjoy tastings in the morning and afternoon, pausing for lunch in a local village restaurant. (B,L)

Wine Tour Day 3 

We follow the 'Routes de Grands Crus' into the Cotes de Nuits region, visiting vineyards in Romanee-Conti and Gevrey-Chambertin. After lunch our tour continues to the Chateau du Clos Vougeot and its walled vineyard, where we learn about the beginnings of wine production in the region and see the large medieval presses. 

Wine Tour Day 5 

We visit the region to the south of Beaune, including the Maconnais region, which produces celebrated Chardonnay wines, and the Cote Chalonnaise region, famed for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes.

Today we travel by coach to Dijon, a city with a wealthy past, reflected in its architectural splendour. We explore the delightful narrow streets of the Old Town on our guided tour, during which enjoy a tasting of some of the fantastic produce for which Dijon is famous, including the mustard which bears its name. We return to Beaune by coach. This evening we dine out at the superb l'Oiseau des Vignes restaurant, located in the centre of Beaune. The restaurant, under Head Chef Christophe Quéant, has the distinction of a Michelin star. We travel home on the TGV on Day 7, via Dijon to Paris, where we board the Eurostar to London. (Day 6-B,D; Day 7-B,E)

E = Eurostar meal, B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
These meals, where shown, are included in the price of your holiday