Wine Tasting Tour of Dijon, Lyon and Beaujolais and Burgundy ULFR06

Personal Highlights:

• A visit to the world famous Maille store in Dijon, renowned for its mustard
• A day in Beaune, center of the Burgundy wine region and the chance to taste the offerings at a major shipper in the town
• A trip along the Cote de Nuits home to the Grand Crus of Burgundy
• The chance to shop for antiques in Lyon
• A full day on the Beaujolais wine trail

Day 1 Depart USA

You board your overnight flight to Paris, the gateway for your exploration of  Dijon, Lyon and the vineyards of Beaujolais and Burgundy

Day 2 Bienvenue a Paris

Upon arrival in Paris you are met by your guide and driver as you take an orientation tour of Paris. Whether this is your first or fifteenth trip to Paris it is impossible not to be impressed as you see the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, L'arc de Triomphe or the Champs Elysees and know that you are truly in Paris. You will view many of these sites in detail later on but for now we absorb it all. After the tour, your guide takes you to your centrally-located hotel where you have the afternoon to relax or explore the neighborhood around your hotel. Dinner is at the hotel's superb restaurant this evening

Day 3 An Exploration of Dijon

After breakfast your are met by your guide and escorted to the station where 1st Class seats have been reserved to the city of Dijon. Upon arrival you are met by your guide who will first take you to a local restaurant for lunch. After lunch you will get a privately guided walking tour of the city. Although it is the capital of Burgundy, it is perhaps better known for its mustard. Your guide will take you to the store of the world-renowned Maille where unique mustard blends can be sampled and bought. You are then taken to your Chateau which sits halfway between Dijon and Beaune in the heart of Burgundy. After a chance to relax you have dinner at the Chateau with wine, Burgundy of course.

Day 4 Beaune and Some Excellent Reds

After breakfast, your guide will be waiting to take you for a walking tour of Beaune, considered the centre of Burgundy Wines. You will visit its most notable building, the Hotel Dieu which is an old hospice built in the 15th Century in a Burgundian-Flemish style. Beaune is also famous for its multicolored tile roofs, its old city walls and its wine museum located in the former mansion of the Dukes of Burgundy. After touring the museum you will have lunch at Abayye de Mazieres which is situated near the Hospices de Beaune in a 12th Century cellar. After lunch your guide will take you to the private cellar of Bouchard Pere et Fils, one of Burgundy's premier "negociants" or shippers and located in the 15th Century Chateau de Beaune. You will have a chance to sample some of their excellent offerings before moving to another negociant either Louis Jadot or Drouhin for some comparative tasting. Tonight another fine dinner with wine.

Day 5 The Grand Crus of Cote de Nuits

Today you start out in search of the Grand Crus of Burgundy. The Cote de Nuits is part of the Cote d'Or and home of some of the best wines made from the Pinot Noir grape. It stretches from Dijon to Nuits-St. George and is made up of a series of villages who have given their names to such iconic wines as Romanee-Conti, Gevrey-Chambertin, Vougeot and Chambolle-Musigny. You will spend the morning tasting some of these outstanding wines noted not only for their quality but also for their scarcity. Unlike the large Chateau vineyards of Bordeaux, the individual vineyards can be as small as two acres and thus their product is limited. In some case they are too small to press and bottle their own wine so they sell to the negociants like Louis Jadot who blends similar grapes to create a still delightful wine. After the tasting you you have lunch and then return to the chateau where the rest of the afternoon is at leisure. In the evening another dinner with wine.

Day 6 Pommard and Meursault

After breakfast your car is waiting to take you along the wine trail of the Cote de Beaune and the Hautes Cotes de Beaune. You will visit the village of Pommard famous for both its red wine and its mustard and Meursault, renowned for its white wine. You will sample both before having lunch and heading back to the hotel where the rest of the afternoon is at leisure.

Day 7 Lyon, Gastronomic Capital of France

After breakfast, your guide will be waiting to take you to Lyon, considered to be the center of French cuisine ( although the Parisians might dispute this). Once in Lyon you have a chance to explore this city both on foot and by car. Although noted for its gastronomy, Lyon is also a cultural center with its own prestigious opera company and orchestra. It is also a center for antiques and after lunch you have the chance to browse some of the stores before heading to your new Chateau located just outside the city. This evenening enjoy a gastronomic menu accompanied by the wines of Beaujolais.

Day 8 The Medieval Charms of Perouges and Oingt

Today you will spend the morning exploring two charming villages. Perched on its hill, Perouges is a perfect example of a French medieval town. The village boasts an unequalled unity with its houses of the nobility and the modest craftsmen's' houses on the unevenly paved streets offering a picturesque setting. You will also visit the village of Oingt with its remnants of the old walls still visible. The village is, today, home to many artists. The afternoon is at leisure followed by another delightful dinner with wine.

Day 9 Following the Beaujolais Wine Trail

Today you will spend the day exploring the Beaujolais wine trail where Romanesque villages give their names to the great Beaujolais Crus including Brouilly, Saint-Amour, Fleurie, Chenas, Morgan and Moulin-a-vent. You will have lunch along the way before returning to the chateau for your farewell dinner, a tasting menu accompanied by the appropriate wines.

Day 10 Return to USA

After breakfast you are transferred to Lyon airport for the beginning of your return trip to the USA arriving back later that same afternoon.

Services Included

• 1st Class rail travel as indicated on the itinerary
• Superior Rooms at the properties indicated in the accommodations area (We reserve the right to substitute a property of equal quality in advance of departure should the designated hotel be unavailable)
• Private Transfers to and from the airport or rail station at destination
• All meals as indicated on the itinerary by B=Breakfast, L=Lunch and D=Dinner
• Private guides for city explorations and private driver/guide while traveling.
• Entrance fees to all museums, attractions and other venues as indicated on the daily itinerary
• Baggage handling at all hotels
• All applicable taxes and service fees

Services Not Included

• International airfare (round-trip from hometown departure gateway to destination)
• Beverages with included meals (unless otherwise indicated on itinerary page)
• Any meals not indicated on the Itinerary page
• Items of a personal nature e.g. minibar, film, postcards etc.
• Gratuities to Guides and Driver/Guides (we provide suggested guidelines for your selected destination in your pre-departure material)
• Any passport or visa fees or government departure taxes (It is the traveler’s responsibility to secure the latest information regarding passports and visa requirements)

Available Year Round