The most famous export from the Burgundy region is wine, with labels such as Cotes de Beaune, Gevrey-Chambertin, Aloxe-Corton and Nuits-St-Georges among the most renowned. Burgundy wines are famous and often mentioned as the best wines worldwide because the suitable land to grow grapes is very limited hence wine producers have to focus on top quality rather than increasing their volumes (contrary to Bordeaux producers who can extend their land).
Wine bottles come at all prices but good bottles direct from small producers can be found at very affordable prices. Of course we can share confidential information regarding the cellars who are offering the best quality price ratio.
It is also interesting to note that Burgundy is producing a sparkling wine which is very similar to champagne but at a discounted price for similar quality. The reason is that this sparkling wine (called “cremant”) is produced in such a limited quantity that it cannot get exported hence producers do not need to invest any marketing costs for fancy commercials in airport duty-free. Getting good wines at moderate prices and bubbly at a fraction of the cost of a similar champagne (can be 1/3 of the cost) means that your alcohol bill will be much cheaper than in any other region for a much better quality overall.
As for wine tours : you can drive easily from the Chateau to many famous wineries (all the above + Meursault, Pommard…).
A list of recommended cellars can be downloaded from here : recommended cellars for wine tours
Except for big cellars, most cellars will be open only upon appointment and they seldom speak English. We can recommend you trustworthy English-speaking guides who can arrange custom wine tours. This will allow you access to confidential cellars who have a small production which is not exported outside of the region. Numbers usually range from 6 to 40 people. Shuttles and coaches can also be booked through us to avoid drinking and driving.
One of our most recommended guide for wine tours is Sherry Thevenot from Bourgogne Authentique. Her bio can be downloaded here : Wine guide_Sherry_bio
Wine courses can also be arranged on site with certified instructors who will bring various bottles for you to sample in our cellar or by the pool.
This Wine Guidebook will help you choose your wines and champagnes for your wedding. It was drafted by a couple who left their finance jobs in Luxemburg to open a winery in Burgundy after marrying in Varennes ! Their story was featured in the local newspaper for Valentine day (article here).
