France Wine Itinerary

Upon arrival at the Paris airport, meet your driver in time for your transfer to Champagne.

Hotel: Domaine Les Crayeres, Reims

Today you have the opportunity to see the region that gives its name to the sparkling wine produced here and nowhere else. Winemakers will share their passion with you, as you discover some of the techniques and secrets of the Méthode Champenoise. The first stop will be at the property of Champagne Henri Guiraud in the Grand Cru village of Ay. You then proceed to Epernay to visit Champagne Gonet, where the family has been producing Grand Cru, Blanc de Blanc Champagne for seven generations. You will also get to know the village of Hautvillers, where the monk Dom Perignon is buried. Later, you will head to the Montagne de Reims region where Champagne is produced using Pinot Noir grapes, exploring Champagne Ployez Jacquemart, another family-owned property, founded in 1930.

Hotel: Domaine Les Crayeres, Reims

Your private guide will meet you at your hotel and take you to explore the alleys of Reims Cathedral, an impressive and highly symbolic monument. From 1027 to 1825, this masterpiece of Gothic architecture hosted the coronation ceremonies of the French monarchs. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991. Next, you will visit the oldest Champagne House in Reims: Ruinart, seeing its cellars in the chalk mining pit. The House Ambassador will accompany you on this part of the tour.

Hotel: Domaine Les Crayeres, Reims

Enjoy a private transfer to your hotel in Burgundy.

Hotel: Hôtel Le Cep, Beaune

One of the highlights of a visit to this part of France is a stop at Les Hospices de Beaune. You will enjoy a private, guided tour of the Gothic monument, observing its intricate façades and glazed roofs lined with bright colors and geometric shapes. You will also have the opportunity to see “The Last Judgement” by Dutch artist Rogier Van Weyden. A charitable institution, Les Hospices de Beaune was founded in 1443 by a chancellor of Burgundy.

Hotel: Hôtel Le Cep, Beaune

This day is earmarked for a comprehensive tour of the Côte de Beaune wine region. This area south of Beaune is home to some of the great Burgundy wines. You will begin with a visit and tasting at Château Pommard, an elegant 18th-century property located along the prestigious Route des Vins. With one of the property’s wine advisors, you will discover the secrets of ancestral wine-making and enjoy a tasting in a private room. After this visit, you will depart for Puligny Montrachet, where you will enjoy a wine-tasting lunch at Domaine Olivier Leflaive. Your next stop will be Château de Meursault, which dates back to the 11th century, where your tour will begin in the old Orangery. You will see an exhibition of paintings and discover a maze of cellars that can accommodate up to 700,000 bottles, before ending your visit with a tasting.

Hotel: Hôtel Le Cep, Beaune

You will begin your day with a visit to a popular local market, where you will select your ingredients for an exciting cooking class. Tie on your white apron and sip a glass of chilled Champagne as you get ready to prepare a menu using seasonal ingredients fresh from the market. Learn some classic cooking techniques before enjoying lunch in the dining room, paired with wines from the region.

Hotel: Hôtel Le Cep, Beaune

Today, a private car will take you to Lyon airport for your flight to Bordeaux.

Hotel: InterContinental Bordeaux, Le Grand

Today is a full-day tour of the Médoc wine region. Few things pique a wine-lovers enthusiasm more than driving along the Route des Châteaux just north of Bordeaux on the Médoc peninsula, surrounded by row upon row of vineyards as far as the eye can see. The names on road signs tick off a fabulous list: Latour, Lafite and Mouton Rothschild, Palmer, Léoville Barton, Pichon Longueville, and Cos d’Estournel. Over the course of the day, you will be introduced to some of the 16 wine-producing communes found in Médoc, such as Château Mouton Rothschild and Château Phelan Segur, where you will enjoy a private lunch.

Hotel: InterContinental Bordeaux, Le Grand

This morning, your driver-guide will meet you at your hotel to take you on a tour of the enchanting medieval village of Saint-Émilion and its wineries. This luminous jewel, built of limestone and Roman roof tiles, is perched on a plateau and completely surrounded by vineyards. The steep and narrow cobblestone streets are lined with remnants of monasteries and convents dating from the 11th to 18th centuries that tell the story of the village. In the afternoon, you will visit the world-famous vineyards of Saint-Émilion.

Hotel: InterContinental Bordeaux, Le Grand

Today you will spend more time getting to know Bordeaux. The city is on the UNESCO World Heritage list as an “outstanding urban and architectural ensemble,” home to 362 historic monuments – second only to Paris. Walk by treasures along the waterfront – Palais de la Bourse, the Triangle d’Or, the Grand Theatre, and private mansions – and visit the wine merchant warehouses by the old docks. Along the way, you will make stops to taste some of the best culinary specialties from the southwest of France, including hams, cheeses, and canelés.

Hotel: InterContinental Bordeaux, Le Grand

This morning, following breakfast at your hotel, you will be transferred to the airport in time for your flight.