Wine Vacation in France
Wine Tour in France Wines & Châteaux Wine & Food
Luxury Tour Schedule
Monday
10 am
Welcome at Marseille-Marignane Airport. We meet there and drive you to your luxurious hotel in Aix, Villa Gallici.
12.30 am
Lunch at the Villa Gallici and Grands Crus tasting with Joël Corre, director of the Intitute of Œnology of Aix.
3.30 pm
After a short drive, visit and tasting of the wines of Domaine Saint-Ser, whose vineyard lies at the foot of the Sainte-Victoire mountain, the favorite motif of Aix painter Paul Cézanne. The mere beauty of the site is breathtaking.
8 pm
After two hours of free time, dinner at Clos de la Violette, the best restaurant of Aix-en-Provence.
Tuesday
8.30 am
We leave the Villa Gallici and drive north, in the direction of Avignon.
9.30 am
Arriving in Avignon, where we visit the Palace of the Popes and walk to the old, famous Pont d'Avignon.
11 am
We drive to Châteauneuf-du-Pape and visit the famous vineyard Clos des Papes, in company of the owner, Paul Avril. The Wine Spectator magazine elected the 2005 best wine of the year. First tasting of the day, with outstanding red and white wines from the estate.
1 pm
Lunch at La Beaugravière, in Mondragon. The chef, Guy Jullien, is famous for his delicious truffle recipes, which we shall enjoy with grands crus from Bordeaux and Burgundy selected by Joël.
4.30 pm
After a two hour's drive, we arrive at Ampuis, home of the glorious Côte-Rôtie vineyard. Facing the Rhône river, the slopes covered with vines are so steep that no tractor can climb them !
We visit René Rostaing for a tasting of La Landonne and La Côte Blonde, both wines are scored 98/100 by Robert Parker. Before we go, René Rostaing will spoil us with his delicious white Condrieu.
6 pm
We arrive at the Villa Florentine, in Lyon. Villa Florentine is a large and luxurious hotel overlooking the river and the city from a hill.
8.30 pm
After two hours of free time in Lyon, we are back to the Villa Florentine where a wonderful dinner is waiting for us.
Wednesday
8.30 am
After a plentiful breakfast at the Villa Florentine, we leave and drive north towards Beaujolais and Burgundy.
10 am
Arrival at Château de Beauregard, in Fuissé, where we are going to sample outstanding wines from Fleurie, Moulin-à-Vent, Saint-Véran and Pouilly-Fuissé in company of Frédéric Burrier, the wine maker.
12.30 am
After an hour's drive in the Beaujolais vineyard, we arrive in Fleurie, ready for an unforgettable lunch at the Auberge du Cep.
The chef, Chantal Chagny, has been recognized by the New-York Times best ambassador of the French gastronomy... A unique opportunity to enjoy her delicious farm chicken cooked with Fleurie wine, which recipe requires two days of preparation.
5 pm
We arrive in the heart of Burgundy and drive directly to Chorey-lès-Beaune, where we are received by Nathalie Tollot, from Domaine Tollot-Beaut, one of the top producers of Côte de Beaune. After the visit, jovial Nathalie will pour us the most complex and delicate wines from Savigny, Beaune and Corton. A voluptuous experience...
8 pm
After two hours of free time in the beautiful, historic city of Beaune, we drive to Hostellerie de Levernois for another refined, gastronomic dinner. The Relais & Châteaux Hostellerie will also provide us with luxurious rooms with a view on the park.
Thursday
9 am
Visit of the Hôtel-Dieu, better knowned as Hospices de Beaune. Built in 1443 by Nicolas Rolin and his wife Guigone de Salins, the old hospital is now a beautiful museum which holds 5000 collection items.
10.30 am
Appointment with Michel Bouzereau in Meursault. After the visit of the cellars, affable Michel Bouzereau and his son Jean-Baptiste will serve us the most delicate and complex Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet ever produced.
11.30 am
On the Puligny and Chassagne-Montrachet route des Grands Crus, Joël Corre guides us through the vineyards which give birth to the greatest white wines of the planet.
12.30 am
Lunch in Les Paulands restaurant, in Aloxe-Corton. Surrounded with vines, the gastronomic restaurant, which is also a Château Hôtel, lies at the foot of the Corton hill. The most refined menu is served with wines from Corton and Corton-Charlemagne.
2.30 pm
Driving on the route des Grands Crus with our guide, we visit La Tâche, La Romanée, the Richebourg, the Echézeaux, the Clos de Vougeot, the Musigny, the Bonnes-Mares, the Clos de la Roche and the Chambertin.
3.30 pm
Visit of the Château du Clos de Vougeot. Property of the Cîteaux abbey until the Revolution, the château was built by the abbot Dom Jean Loisier in 1551. Etienne Camuzet, the last owner, donated it to the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin in 1944. Entirely restored, it was classified national monument in 1949.
4.30 pm
Visit of Domaine G. Roumier in Chambolle-Musigny. Christophe Roumier is the winemaker while his sister Delphine is in charge of the sales. Not an easy task, since each client, whose allocation is strictly limited, is begging for more bottles every year... After the visit, graceful Delphine will spoil us with the best premiers crus and grands crus of Chambolle-Musigny.
8 pm
We drive north during two hours and we arrive in Epernay, heart of the Champagne vineyard, for a dinner at the gastronomic restaurant Royal Champagne. The delicate, fancy menu is matched with vintage Champagne.
10.30 pm
After a short drive, we arrive in Reims, historic city and capital of Champagne. We drive directly to our splendid hotel, the Château des Crayères, where we are staying for two nights.
Friday
9 am
Breakfast at the Colibri, in front of the huge, historic cathedral Notre Dame de Reims. After a chocolat chaud with fresh croissants, two hours of free time to enjoy the beautiful, historic center of Reims.
11 am
Visit of Pommery Champagne, in Reims, where you will learn all the secrets of that magic wine. Pommery owns the most beautiful cellars of Champagne, “an underground cathedral”. The visit includes a tasting of the best cuvées of Pommery.
12.30 am
Lunch at the gourmet restaurant La Vigneraie, which is located in the historic center of Reims. Hervé Badier, the chef, is known for his creative recipes, always in perfect harmony with the season.
3.30 pm
We meet with Eric Rodez, winemaker and oenologist in Ambonnay. Before bottling, he ages his wine in oak barrels, according to the tradition. After the visit of the cellars, Eric Rodez will pour us his high class Ambonnay Champagne, blanc de noirs Grand Cru.
5.30 pm
Visit of Lilbert-Fils Champagne, in Cramant, heart of the glorious Côte des Blancs. The chardonnay wine, named blanc de blancs, is more subtle and delicate than the usual, blended Champagne. Guided in the cellars by Bertrand Lilbert, we shall enjoy blanc de blancs Grands Crus from Cramant and Chouilly.
6.30 pm
On the wine route of Champagne, guided by Joël Corre, we visit the vineyards of Avize, Oger, Le Mesnil and Vertus.
8 pm
We arrive in Châlons-sur-Marne to dine at Armes de Champagne, a luxurious, renowned gastronomic restaurant. The chef, Philippe Zeiger, is famous both for his culinary art and for the successful cooking course he gives at the restaurant.
10.30 pm
We are back in Reims for our last night at the Château des Crayères.
Saturday
9.30 am
After a delightful breakfast at the hotel, we leave the Château des Crayères and drive west, in the direction of Paris.
11.30 am
Arrival in Paris. This is the end of the tour, where everybody parts, with both heart and taste buds rich of unforgettable experiences...
