Chablis & Northern Burgundy - Two Day Wine Tour
For individuals or groups up to twelve. A complete wine tasting tour of northern Burgundy. Two full days of vineyard visits, meetings with local wine producing families and extensive wine tastings.
Guests can choose from one of the local hotels or B&Bs featured in our links page.
Day One
09h30 - Depart after breakfast with Brendan in the minibus to the nearby Grand Cru vineyards that overlook the town of Chablis. Amidst the vines you will learn of the importance of the 'terroir' in creating these unique wines the monastic origins of the first vineyards, and their colourful history up to the present day.
10h00 - Arriving in the town of Chablis we visit a famous local winemaking family. A guided tour of their wine making facility is concluded with an extensive tasting of their wines including Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru and Chablis Grand Cru.
12h30 - Lunch in the heart of Chablis at the “Bistrot des Grands Crus”. Enjoy one of the local specialities like Andouillete, escargots or Jambon à la Chablisienne.
14h00 - Continuing in the minibus, we drive through the vines to the nearby village of St Bris Le Vineux. Here we visit another local family who will show us their incredible labyrinth of 12th century cellars, still in use to this day. A tasting of their excellent wines includes the newly classified sauvignon, St Bris, which is delicious!
16h00 - Before returning to your hotel there is time for a quick detour to the nearby Caves de Bailly. These vast caves, large enough to drive into (and once used by monks to make cheese), are now used in the making of ‘Cremante de Bourgogne’, our local Burgundy Champagne.
17h00 – Return to hotel
Day Two
09h30 - Depart after breakfast with Brendan for a scenic 45 minute drive through the local countryside to the historic site of Vezelay with its magnificent Romanesque Basilica. In the nearby village of Precy le Moult we visit the best local wine producer, Elsie Villiers for a tasting of her superb Bourgogne chardonnay and pinot noir. From here we drive up into Vezelay where Brendan takes you on a walking tour of the village and Basilica.
12h30 –Simple lunch in one of the numerous cafés found on the main street.
14h00 - We leave Vezelay and wind our way back, via the Serein Valley with a brief stop in the medieval village of Noyers, to the vineyards of Chablis.
15h00 - In the village of Chichée we visit a young winemaker whose wines regularly win international awards. A tour of his modern winery is completed with a tasting of his delicious wines.
17h30 - Arrive back at your hotel.