March 11-16, 2025

From 3000.00 €

Who and what this tour is for

We will get to know the natural beauties of Burgundy and the prestigious wines of this region;
We will learn how many appellations there are in Burgundy, learn how to distinguish Climá (UNESCO Intangible Heritage of Humanity) from Lieu-dee, and see Clos, Cru and Monopoli;
In the evening we will be treated to a fine author's dinner with 20 special bottles worth €3000;
We will taste at least 8 official and 1 unofficial Grand Cru Burgundy including the legendary years 1995, 1999, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2019 as well as 7 Premiers Cru;
We'll be at the Crémant and pan-roasting festivities - chasing away winter in Châtillon-en-Seine!
A beautiful season full of spring beauty and romance.

Price includes:

Accommodation at Villa Thaïs, 5 nights;
Breakfasts;
Dinners consist of four changes (appetizer, hot dishes, cheeses, dessert);
There may be changes in the program depending on the weather and the capacity of the producers to host the group, in which case an equal substitution will be made;
Wine is included in all 5 dinners;
Champagne and/or wine will be provided for each dinner at the rate of 1 bottle per two people for the entire dinner, drinking of wine/champagne purchased at the tastings is encouraged, additional wine may be purchased at the Villa (over 1000 bottles in the collection), tastings are attended by the hosts of the house (2 people);
All specified tastings and visits;
Transport escort during the program Nissan Primastar, driver and 8 people.

Additional fees include:

Flight;
Transfer to the town of Tonnerre and return;
There are direct trains from Paris to Tonnerre, 2 hours on the road, cost €34 per person one-way;
An optional cab from / to Tonnerre is a 5-seater minibus, costing about 400 euros one-way, advance booking required;
Lunches in restaurants (about 30-50 euros);
Medical insurance.

Itineraries

Day 1

Date : March 11, 2025

Check-in at Villa Thais, Tonnerre, Northern Burgundy;
Meet at Tonnerre train station (direct train from Paris, 2 hours drive).Suggested check-in time from 16-00 to 18-00. Option - transfer from the airport or Paris by minibus;
Accommodation in Villa Thaїs guest house, general gathering, introductions, program breakdown;
Walk through the town of Tonnerre - history of the town, Chevalier d'Eon, Basilisk and other townspeople;
Talk about Burgundy and Burgundy wines - basics;
Welcome dinner Gifts of the Sea with Chablis and wine of Yonne department (Northern Burgundy).

1st evening. Chablis and wine of Northern Burgundy- 4 bottles (0.75l)

Epineuil, Cuvée Juliette Domaine Dominique Gruhier 2005 (0,75l) no rating, € 50+. A top cuvée of a legendary year from one of the best producers in Tonnerre, pinot noir;
Chablis 1-er Cru Montée de Tonnerre Domaine Gouailhardou 1999 (0,75l) no rating, € 80+. The Gouailhardou estate, which closed 15 years ago due to the owner's retirement, specialized in old Millezimas and their long storage. A beautifully aged Chablis from a great year. Monte deux Tonneres is the most prestigious Prémieux Cru Chablis;
Chablis 1-er Cru Les Fourneaux Domaine Laroche 2009 90/100 mid-palate, €60+. Prestigious right bank Premier Cru from a renowned producer, excellent year;
Chablis Grand Cru Les Blanchots Domaine Laroche 2005 93/100 mid-palate, € 120+. An easternmost Grand Cru from a renowned producer, great year.

Day 2

Date : March 12, 2025

City of Beaune, introduction to Burgundy

Early breakfast of a French peasant;
Transfer to Bon Beaune, the wine capital of Burgundy;
Tasting of Côte de Beaune Burgundy wines at the farm;
Lunch at the restaurant (not included);
Visit to the center of Burgundy wines and Burgundy Climats Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne, an introduction to the wine history of Burgundy;
sightseeing tour of Beaune and free time;
Return to Tonnerre to Villa Taïs;
Dinner Corton and game (if the hunter is lucky) - great red wines.

2nd evening. Mount Corton - 4 bottles (0.75l).

Mount Corton is a unique place in Burgundy. The size of the two Grand Cru's located here is huge by Burgundian standards - Corton covers an area of 91 hectares and Corton-Charlemagne 60 hectares. The idea behind our tasting is that we will cover a wide variety of exposures:

Corton 2006 and 2010 from esteemed local winemaker Follin-Arbelet from the western slope, as well as the prestigious Corton Les Bressandes 2009 from the same winemaker from the southern slope, and the Corton-Vergennes legendary 2005 from the easternmost slope of the mountain.

Corton Grand Cru Domaine Follin-Arbelet 2010 (0.75l) 93/100 La Rev de VdF €150+
Corton Grand Cru Domaine Follin-Arbelet 2006 (0.75l) 93/100 cf. €160+
Corton Les Bressandes Grand Cru Domaine Follin-Arbelet 2009 (0.75l) 94/100 La Rev de VdF €150+
Corton-Vergennes Grand Cru Domaine Charles Allexant et Fils 2005 (0.75l) no score €150+

Day 3

Date : March 13, 2025

Chablis, the hill of Grand Cru and Auxerre, the capital of the department

French aristocrat's breakfast;
Transfer to Chablis, view of the different climes from the Grand Cru hill;
Chablis tasting at the farm;
Transfer to Auxerre Auxerre, the capital of the department;
Lunch in a restaurant (not included in the price);
City tour, free time;
Return to Tonnerre to Villa Thais;
Dinner Duck Song with Gevrey-Chambertin.

3rd evening. Gevrey-Chambertin - 4 bottles (0.75l)

Gevrey-Chambertin is one of Burgundy's most famous red wines, partly because it was the wine favored by Napoleon. We will start our tasting with a bottle of the excellent 1995 vintage, the producer here is notable for changing the corks every 20 years to better preserve the wine.

Then we will take the unique opportunity to taste Clos des Varoilles - a monopole plot belonging to one owner - a great rarity in Burgundy. After retirement, the owners of Domaine des Varoilles sold their unique plot to one of the great Domaine Prieuré Roch and now this wine from the new producer sells for over 600 euros per bottle. We will be tasting the wine from the former owners, it is no longer made.

1-er Cru Domaine René Leclerc Lavaux Saint-Jacques 1995 (0,75l) 91/100 cf. € 130
1-er Cru Dom des Varoilles, Clos des Varoilles Monopole 2010 (0,75l) 93/100 Wine Enthusiast € 150
1-er Cru Dom des Varoilles, Clos des Varoilles Monopole 2013 (0,75l) 91/100 cf. score € 130
1-er Cru Dom des Varoilles, Clos des Varoilles Monopole 2005 (0,75l) 94/100 cf. score € 180

Day 4

Date : March 14, 2025

Dijon and Côte de Nuits and Hautes Côtes de Nuits

Early French winemaker's breakfast;
Departure to Hautes Côtes de Nuits;
Wine tasting at the farm;
Transfer to Dijon;
Lunch at Michelin restaurant, fine wine list (not included);
Dijon sightseeing tour and free time;
Return to Tonnerre at Villa Thais;
Dinner Charolais (famous Burgundy beef) with Vosne-Romanée and Nuits-Saint-Georges.

4th evening. Vosne-Romanée and Nuits-Saint-Georges - 4 bottles (0.75l)

Nuits-Saint-Georges (NSG) Nuits-Saint-Georges is the town that gave its name to an entire region of the Côte de Nuits, the most prestigious part of Burgundy. The neighboring commune of Vosne-Romanée Von-Romanée produces Burgundy's most expensive red wines. The idea of our tasting is to compare the two great neighbors.

Nuits-Saint-Georges Vieilles Vignes Domaine Javouhey 2005 (0.75l) no rating €70+
A wine made from old vines, with an eye on long aging, a great year
NSG 1-er Cru Les Saint-Georges Domaine Henri Gouges 2008 (0.75l) 94/100 Wine Enth. € 180+
An unofficial Grand Cru of Nuits-Saint-Georges from one of the most prestigious producers
Vosne-Romanée Domaine Jean Grivot 2017 (0.75l) 91/100 Wine Spect. €100+
A communal Vosne-Romanée from a prestigious producer
Vosne-Romanée 1-er Cru Les Suchots Dom. de la Poulette 2005 (0.75l) 93/100 Wine Spect. € 110+
Vosne-Romanée of the prestigious Premier Cru Les Suchots of the legendary year

Day 5

Date : March 15, 2025

Châtillon-sur-Seine, the Crémantes Festival and the Vase of Princess Vicks

French tourist breakfast;
Departure to Châtillon-sur-Seine ( Châtillon-sur-Seine ) for the Fête du Crémant et du Tape-Chaudrons;
Fête du Crémant et du Tape-Chaudrons - banish winter! Tastings on the street and street food;
Walking - 10th century church, healing spring - cures all diseases, if ritual is followed!
Visit to a local museum and tour of an ancient Greek vase / “ crater” - wine mixing vessel, the largest in the world (1100 liters);
Tour of the area, panoramic view from Mount Lassua, walk (optional) on the traces of an ancient civilization that lived there 2500 years ago - the Hallstatt culture;
Return to Tonnerre to Villa Thais;
Dinner - surprise dinner with the Legends of Burgundy.

Evening 5. Legends of Burgundy, white and red - 4 bottles (0.75l)

In this tasting, we will get to know several legends of Bourgogne - wine from Lalou Biz-Leroy, and the prestigious Grand Cru

Bourgogne Blanc Leroy 2016 (0,75l) 91/100 medium, €180+

A basic Burgundy white from Burgundy's legendary winemaker, Lalou Biz-Leroy, whose Grand Cru wines sell for tens of thousands of euros Grand Cru, produced by Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru supporter Dom. M. et A-M. Chapuis 2010 (0.75l) 92/100 average, €160+

Corton-Charlemagne is a legendary Burgundy white Grand Cru, produced by an “old school” supporter, one of the best years of the decade for whitesBonnes-Mares Grand Cru Domaine Faiveley 1996 (0.75l) 93/100 medium, €320+

Legendary Burgundy red Grand Cru from renowned producer Clos Vougeot Grand Cru Domaine Berthaut-Gerbet 2019 (0.75l) 95/100 La Rev de VdF, €350+

Clos Vougeot Grand Cru from a prestigious producer, a legendary year

Day 6

Date : March 16, 2025