The walled French town of Beaune lies at the epicentre of the famous Burgundy winemaking region, where enthusiasts can come and join a wine number of tastings and tours.
(Photo: ACTIVE TOURS / BOURGOGNE EVASION / Courtesy GetYourGuide)
Surrounded by the Côte d’Or vineyards, the charming town even hosts its own prestigious annual wine auction held at the Hôtel-Dieu, renowned for its colourful, geometric-patterned tile roof, which now serves as an art museum. To discover the town and wider region’s rich wine-making heritage for yourself, you can book a number of guided tastings and tours that showcase the time-honoured techniques that go into Burgundy wine production as well as offering a chance to sample some of the local tipple for yourself. We’ve picked out 5 such experiences below.
Winery Tour by Bike
This 3-hour tour invites you to discover the beautiful natural scenery and some of the many vineyards surrounding Beaune with the wind in your hair. By bike, you and your group will set off early afternoon accompanied by an expert guide who will navigate you through a mix of countryside small, quaint villages and several vineyards. At one of the latter, you’ll stop for a wine-tasting session and the chance to learn about the different types of Burgundy wines and what makes them unique. There’ll also be a chance to purchase bottles as gifts or mementoes. Afterwards, you’ll cycle back towards Beaune where your tour comes to a close. From $86 per person.
Authentic Burgundy Wine Tour Côte de Beaune, Côte de Nuits
(Photo: ClarisseTravel Explore Wine Regions / Courtesy GetYourGuide)
For a more extended and exclusive experience, this private all-day tour takes you deep into Burgundy wine country, with visits some of the area’s most renowned vineyards, complete with wine tastings As part of an intimate group of family or friends, you’ll receive the full attention of your guide as you travel via luxury VIP transport, stopping off at several notable historical sites where you get out an explore, as well visiting a traditional restaurant for a hearty lunch of local fare. Throughout the tour, your guide will regale you with fascinating facts about Burgundy, its grape varieties, terroirs, and unique climate. Hotel pick-up and drop-off are included in the tour price. From $1,204 per person.
Maison Jaffelin Tasting & Tour
Nestled in Beaune’s historic centre, Maison Jaffelin boasts a rich heritage that is indelibly linked with the Collegiate Church of Notre Dame de Beaune. Since the 12th century, the winery’s cellars have housed the wines of the church and its princes, and it’s a tradition that continues to this day, with wines still resting in the monastic tranquility of the cellars in the same way as they did eight centuries ago. Those keen to see the still-active wine cellars for themselves can do so by booking a guided tasting and tour that includes the chance to sample a total of 7 house wines, as well as to look around the premises and its atmospheric cellars. From $29 per person.
Private Tasting in Beaune : The Best of Burgundy Wines
(Photo: Millésimes à la Carte / Courtesy GetYourGuide)
Another private option, but with a far more budget-friendly price than our previous recommendation, is this 1.5-hour tour featuring an extensive tasting session at Millésimes à la Carte in Beaune, an acclaimed wine shop with more than 35 years of work in Burgundy wines. During the tour, you’ll take a seat with an expert sommelier ready to taste a total of eight distinct Premier Cru and Grand Cru wines. Later, there’ll be time to visit the on-site shop where you can buy bottles to take away with you. You’ll also receive a souvenir tasting sheet from your session and for an extra charge can purchase your tasting wine glass, too. From $69 per person.
Introduction to wine tasting – Oenology course
A family-run wine estate since 1850, Domaine Besancenot, located in the northern reaches of Beaune, invites visitors to come and discover the distinct characteristics of its terroir and the wines that it produces. Over the course of two hours, you’ll be introduced to a total of 6 wines, each tasted blind to enhance the sensory experience. Along the way, your expert hosts will offer insights and advice that will leave you feeling like a seasoned sommelier. There’ll also be time to look around the Domaine’s 10 hectares of lush vineyards before you depart with new-found wine expertise. From $40 per person.