Burgundy’s wines are known throughout the world and winter is a great time to visit, a little chill in the air adds something to the sublime wines from Gevrey-Chambertin, Nuits-St-Georges, Vosne-Romanée and Chablis, to name just a few.
Beaune makes for a great base to tour the local countryside and the vineyards of the Route des Grands Crus. The city has a beautiful old centre with cobbled streets and is terrific for wandering, getting lost, warming up with a hot chocolate and enjoying the wonderful architecture.The must-see place is the Hotel Dieu founded by Guigone de Salins and her husband Nicolas Rolin in 1443. On the third week-end of November the 3 Glorieuses take place in this part of the town: a charity wine auction - proceeds to fund the local hospital’s equip-ment and the hotel-dieu’s conservation.
The colourful festival of Saint Vincent Tournante honours the 22 January feast day of St. Vincent, patron saint of wine (the festival is held on the weekend closest to the Saint’s Day). The event attracts thousands to enjoy a choreographed collaboration between the Brotherhood of Tastevin, the Church and local wine making societies.
In Beaune you’ll enjoy plenty of choice for great restaurants and of course Boeuf Bourguignon is a firm favourite as well as coq au vin made with Burgundy wine – ideal winter dishes.
Take a wine tasting: Sensation Vin in the town, open year-round. Perfect for novices or experts, and tastings are from 1.5 hours in a 10th century cellar to a day in the vineyards. (sensation-vin.com)
Wine and dine: Hotel Le Cep, an institution in Beaune. Gastronomic dishes and 70 different wines by the glass in a historic 16th century mansion (hotel-cep-beaune.com).
Stay at: Les Jardins de Lois, 5-minute walk from the Hospices and town centre. Authentic, cosy and tranquil B&B in a characterful house with rooms named after vineyards and owned by local wine makers the Dufouleurs. (jardinsdelois.com)
BURGUNDY