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After a smooth flight from Newark to Paris, during which I managed over five hours of sleep, my adventure in France began with a mix of excitement and challenges. Despite missing a day due to travel delays, I was eager to dive into our first day of tours. However, my journey started with a detour to recover luggage left behind at Dulles Airport. United Airlines assured me it would follow me to Paris once I arrived, though my AirTag amusingly showed it already crossing the Atlantic. Upon arrival, their helpful agents assisted me in processing the proper forms and promised my bag would meet me in Beaune the next day.
Despite some setbacks, United Airlines and our Airbnb host showed exceptional service. The host kindly collected my delayed luggage on Friday while Sarah and I enjoyed wine tastings, showcasing the kindness of strangers. Safari Tours in Beaune also impressed by ensuring Sarah’s smooth arrival from CDG to Lyon by train and then to Beaune by car. They arranged for my early pickup on Thursday with Thomas. Their communication was outstanding, tracking my flight delays and cancellations to rebook smoothly. Their flexible approach made our experience truly unforgettable.
Now onto the Wine
Thomas greeted me at Charles de Gaulle Airport with an infectious smile and an upbeat attitude. As a Burgundy native and sommelier, he had a wealth of knowledge about the region’s wine culture. The four-hour drive to Beaune flew by as we chatted about Burgundy’s history, its wines, and its people.
Thanks to Safari Tours‘ flexibility, our delayed arrival didn’t disrupt the itinerary. While Sarah rested, Thomas took me to our Airbnb for a quick regroup and to pick her up. We began with a leisurely lunch instead of wine tastings, which was a perfect introduction to Burgundy’s culinary delights. A short 21-kilometer drive took us to Castel de Très Girard in the tiny village of Morey-Saint-Denis. A small village north of Nuits-Saint-Georges and south of Gevery-Chambertin. The quality of the food was a pleasant surprise, serving as a wake-up call and getting us excited for our adventure. This culinary experience set the tone for our wine tour, highlighting the region’s gastronomic excellence.
First Wine Tasting in Burgundy
After a delightful lunch, we headed north to Gevrey-Chambertin for our first wine tasting at Domaine Philippe Leclerc, marking Sarah and my introduction to Bourgogne’s wine scene. Renowned for its muscular and concentrated Pinot Noirs, the winery has been family-owned for over a century and employs sustainable practices, aging many wines for 22 months in French oak barrels. Leclerc’s wines are rich and rustic, with bold tannins that demand significant aging to reveal their full potential.
Despite my preparations, I was unready for the complexity of Burgundy’s wine region, which is renowned for its picturesque vineyards and world-class wines. This area offers an unparalleled blend of history, terroir, tradition and is home to approximately 1,247 vineyards classified as climats-precisely defined vineyard plots recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These climats reflect the region’s intricate terroir, shaped by centuries of tradition. There are 33 grand cru appellations in Burgundy, with 24 located in the Côte de Nuits and the remainder in the Côte de Beaune. Burgundy overall has around 4,000 wine producers, including domaines and négociants (wine producers who only source their grapes).
At Domaine Philippe Leclerc, we experienced this complexity firsthand by tasting two wines from the same vintage but sourced from climats just 500 meters apart. The higher vineyard, rich in limestone, produced sharper flavors, while the lower plot, influenced by clay, yielded rounder notes. This experience highlighted how each climat uniquely shapes the story within every bottle, setting the remarkable tone for our wine journey.
Second Wine Tasting
After an excellent start, we ventured to Gilly-lès-Cîteaux, a charming village in the Côte de Nuits region. Here, we met Joseph Barbier, a skilled winemaker and négociant dedicated to producing exceptional wines that embody the area’s renowned terroir. His winery specializes in Premier Cru and Grand Cru wines.
During our visit, Joseph shared captivating stories while offering us a taste of his special Petit Chablis, crafted from 100% French rootstocks. This is particularly rare since most vineyards rely on American rootstocks resistant to Phylloxera, a pest that devastated European vineyards in the 19th century. The use of French rootstocks added a unique touch to the wine’s character.
Joseph also recounted a fascinating tale about his grandfather’s friendship with the Apollo 15 astronauts. In honor of this connection, the astronauts carried a label from Nuits-Saint-Georges wine on their Moon mission and named a lunar crater “Saint Georges Crater.” Sampling these exquisite wines while hearing such remarkable stories made the experience truly unforgettable.
As we bid farewell to Joseph around 6 pm, marking nearly 11 hours since Thomas had picked me up in Paris, we began our journey back through the picturesque vineyards to Beaune. Along the way, we paused several times to delve into the rich history and personal anecdotes surrounding some of the region’s iconic vineyards. It was truly an unforgettable day!
This trip reaffirmed my belief in the goodness of people worldwide. From United Airlines’ support, our AirBnB host, to Safari Tours’ meticulous planning and Thomas’ passion for sharing his culture, every challenge was met with kindness and professionalism. If you’re planning a visit to Burgundy, I wholeheartedly recommend Safari Tours Beaune—they turn travel dreams into unforgettable experiences!
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