Burgundy is one of the best places to experience French wine. The picturesque region is full of rolling hills covered in rows of vines. It is one of the prettiest places to visit, full of charming old villages and some of the most famous vineyards in the world.
The city of Beaune is the wine capital of Burgundy, situated right in the middle of France’s most renowned wine routes. With so many prestigious vineyards in the area, it can be pretty daunting to narrow down which to try. And with some producing bottles selling upwards of $20,000 a piece, not all are open to visitors.
This guide covers some of the best Burgundy wine tasting and tours in and around Beaune for all types of wine lovers. I will also be including two of our favorite vineyards to visit while in Beaune.
About Burgundy Wines
The Burgundy region is divided into plots known as “climates.” Each has its own name and distinct soil composition. There are over 1,000 in the Burgundy Region alone. The vines here are so expensive that one plot having different owners is standard practice. For that reason, wines are identified first by the name of the vineyard and second by the owner of the vines.
Burgundy is known mainly for its red wines, but the region also produces white. Red Burgundy is made with the pinot grape, and white Burgundy with chardonnay. The wines are divided into four different classifications based on quality, with Grand Crus being the best of the best. In total, Grand Crus make up only 1% of the total wines produced in Burgundy.
Popular Beaune Wine Tours
- Full-Day Grand Cru Tasting from Beaune: Experience some of the best burgundy wines in this full-day tour from Beaune. Tour some of the most renowned vineyards, such as Romanée-Conti and Clos Vougeot, while learning about the different appellations and tasking some of the best burgundy wines.
- Full-Day Wine and Bicycle Tour from Beaune: A fun way to experience the different wineries is with this full-day bike tour. Enjoy wine tastings at several local vineyards and lunch in the town of Beaune while enjoying the beautiful Burgundy countryside.
- Private Tour from Beaune: Want a more personal wine-tasting experience? This private tour features wine tastings at several top Burgundy vineyards, a knowledgeable guide, and free pick-up and drop-off at your hotel.
Best Beaune Wine Tours
Located in the heart of Burgundy, Beaune is known for being home to some of the region’s most renowned vineyards. The following places are great options for those interested in learning more about Burgundy wines. From extensive wine stores to private tastings, the following list includes options for all interests and levels of wine connoisseurs.
Joseph Drouhin
Best For: Best overall tour with tasting.
Joseph Drouhin is not just one of the best wine producers in Beaune; its headquarters are located in the oldest cellars in the city. And with over a dozen Grand Crus alone, the family of winemakers is known for their quality of wines.
The vineyard offers wine tours through its medieval cellars as part of a tasting experience. These cellars were once used by the monks of Burgundy, who are to thank for the start of Burgundy wines. They were created next to Notre Dame Collegiate Church and used as far back as the 3rd century. In total, the many passages extend almost one hector under the city.
In addition to the monks, the Dukes of Burgundy and the Kings used to store their wine here before they were purchased by Robert Drouhin in the 1960s. These same cellars continue to be used to house the wine producer’s barrels.
Joseph Drouhin was our favorite tour. It was fascinating to visit such historic cellars, and our guide did an excellent job teaching us about the history of Burgundy wines. You will learn a lot about wine production and get within inches of the family’s private and very expensive stash.
Not once did we feel obligated to purchase any wines during our visit, and the guide truly has a passion for what she does. A visit to Joseph Drouhin is one of Beaune’s best all-around tours and tastings, perfect for people who appreciate history and love wine.
Cellar Tours and Tastings:
The main guided tour lasts 90 minutes and costs €45 per person with groups of up to 8 people. It combines a tour of the 13th-century cellars, an overview of the burgundy wine region, and a tasting of 6 wines.
The tour starts with a visit to the original wine press. The wine press dates back to 1571, when it was the primary tool used to press grapes. Today, it is still used to produce special batches of anniversary wines.
From there, you will continue down to the cellars, learning about the different varieties and some fun facts about the wines housed there. You will also get to see the family’s private stash of wines.
As you walk through the cellars, your tour guide will highlight some historic parts for you. One of the most remarkable is the 2000-year-old Roman foundation that makes up one of the cellar’s walls.
After the cellar tour comes the anticipated tasting of three white and three red wines, your guide will walk you through each of the wines, explaining where they come from and discussing their tasting notes. From there, you will step back into the wine shop, where you will likely stock up on some bottles.
Joseph Drouhin also hosts special events and more thematic tastings for guests, such as vineyard tours, specialty tastings, and food and wine pairings. All upcoming events are on their website and must be reserved in advance.
Some unique tastings include the Gourmet Tasting of 5 wines paired with local desserts. Another is the Blind Tasting for those interested in learning more about the characteristics of burgundy wines.
Maison Champy
Best For: Several tour options, including a vinyard e-bike tour.
Maison Champy is the oldest wine merchant in Burgundy, first established in 1720. A portion of the vineyard, Le Close de Bully, is even older, having been planted by monks in 1158. Maison Champy owns around twenty-one hectares of vines, most in Côte de Beaune. In recent years, the winemaker has been using organic methods to produce their wines.
In addition to the vineyards, Maison Champy has a lovely boutique in Beaune if you want to purchase some bottles. Many of their tours and tastings also take place here.
Tours and Tastings:
Mansion Champy offers a handful of experiences for visitors. The guided cellar tour and tasting lasts around an hour and a half and combines visiting the 15th-century cellars with a sampling of 5 wines. Prices range from €25 to €55 depending on the wine tier you try.
The Terroir Tasting includes an assortment of 5 Village and Premier Cru Wines, while the Prestige Tasting allows you to sample the highly coveted Premier and Grand Cru wines.
For a more personalized experience, the €135 Terroir Tasting offers a private tour of the cellars, with access to parts closed to the public. This tour dives deeper into the history of the House of Champy and the secrets behind their excellent wines.
Another experience offered is an e-bike vineyard tour. The excursion is a fun way to discover the terroirs of Burgundy up close before meeting back at the tasting room for your wine tasting.
Are you looking to skip the tour and enjoy a tasting instead? Maison Champy offers hour-long wine tastings at their boutique as well. Like any of the experiences, tastings must be scheduled online or by phone in advance.
For the ultimate experience, immerse yourself in a food and wine pairing. Maison Champy offers lunch and dinner experiences, including a visit to the ancient cellars and a four-course meal paired with their wines. Prices for the food and wine pairing vary based on meal and level of wines and start at €95.
Château de Pommard
Best For: Private tastings of some of Burgundy’s more expensive wines.
Château de Pommard has Burgundy’s largest privately-owned clos (walled vineyard). Within the clos are seven types of terroir, all comprised of a different mixture of clay, limestones, and sand. With such diverse soil, the vineyard can produce an impressive 200,000 wine varieties.
It takes more than just the soil to produce such high-quality wines. The winemaking process is also critical. Each year the grapes are harvested by hand as it is the gentlest way to collect them. From there, they are sorted through to ensure ripeness and quality.
Even the soil is plowed using traditional methods of horses instead of machines. Although this is more time-consuming, it ensures that the ancient roots of the vines are not crushed, and the soil is turned more delicately.
Château de Pommard was our favorite wine tasting in Beaune. The tour takes place in a large room inside the château, overlooking Pommard’s vines with your own personal wine expert. Not only did they do a great job of explaining the concept of the terroir, but the entire experience was well thought out and felt very high-end.
Tours and Tastings:
Château de Pommard hosts many tours and experiences throughout the year. The Clos Marey-Monge Tasting is a great all-around experience that includes a look at the different terroir and winemaking techniques that make each wine unique.
Your wine advisor will teach you about the types of wines produced before guiding you through a tasting of six varieties. Their approach to wine tasting is perfect for those wanting to learn more about winemaking techniques. For an even more in-depth look at Burgundy wines, subregions, and classifications, try the Discover Burgundy Tasting.
Patriarche Père et Fils
Best For: Self-guided tours without the need to make reservations in advance.
We have John the Baptist Patriarch to thank for starting Patriarche Père et Fils when he purchased the headquarters in 1780.
Patriarche Père et Fils is an excellent place for those looking for an interactive and self-guided tour of the winemaking world. The cellars extend over 5 kilometers underground and house over 2 million bottles of wine. Both guided and self-guided tours are offered, allowing access to parts of these 13th-century cellars.
Tours and Tastings:
One of the most popular tour options is the Wine & Tasting Freedom Tour which is available every 30 minutes from 9:30 am until 5:00 pm. For only €20, the self-guided tour allows you to explore the most extensive cellars in Burgundy with the help of an audio guide. In total, plan on spending about an hour for the entire experience. Once you’ve completed the self-guided part of the tour, you will get a chance to sample 6 different wines (3 white and 3 red).
The Wine & Tasting Freedom Tour is perfect for people who prefer to explore the cellars independently. These tours are also fantastic if you have extra time in your day and want to stop by without the need to make an advanced reservation like most other vineyards.
You will want to book the private Privilege Tour in advance. These are run by an experienced sommelier who will take you on a guided tour of the cellars before sampling 8 Burgundy wines. You will also be given a special bottle of wine at the end of your visit.
The Privilege Tour lasts around 2 hours and offers a more intimate wine-tasting experience. Prices for this tour range depending on the number of participants in your group, with a flat rate of €275 for groups of less than five people.
Maison Chanson Pere & Fils
Best For: Those looking for a quick, inexpensive tasting without a tour.
The vineyard first began in 1750 under the name Maison Verry. It wasn’t until over 25 years later that they purchased the first cellars, which are still used today. Today, Maison Chanson Pere & Fils owns over 25 hectares of Premier Cru vines, one of the largest parcels by one owner in Beaune.
Maison Chanson Pere & Fils is located in an old Bastions that they purchased after the French Revolution to store the vineyard’s wine barrels. Louis XI originally built them as defense towers with walls up to 8 feet thick. Due to their thickness, they create the perfect temperature and humidity for storing wine.
Private wine tasting is available upon request and consists of 2 Villages and 2 Premiers Crus wines. Tastings are performed in the wine shop with a wine expert and last about 45 minutes. It was a great intimate experience, perfect for those interested in an inexpensive, private tasting. After your tasting, you can explore the outside gardens of the Maison before heading to your next tasting.
Bouchard Aîné et Fils
Best For: Private wine and food pairing options in a beautiful setting.
Bouchard Aîné et Fils began with Michel Bouchard, who settled in Burgundy in 1731 and started a fabric and wine business. It was not until 1750 that his son Joseph officially took over the business and began to expand the family’s status in the world of wine.
Centuries later, you can find the producer’s wines in over 130 countries worldwide. Today, the vineyard now belongs to the Boisset Family, who are responsible for opening their cellars up to the public.
Tours and Tastings:
The vineyard offers a few different experiences, the most popular being the Tour of the 5 Senses. You can find the headquarters of Bouchard Aîné et Fils in the lovely Hôtel du Conseiller du Roy in the town of Beaune. It is here where you will have your tasting. Offered five times a day, The Discovery Tour includes a unique experience that will teach you to explore wines using your senses.
The tour includes a history of the winemaker, a tour of the cellars, and tastings of 5 wines. For an added cost, you may be interested in the Souvenir Tour, which includes an additional bottle of Villages wine. Although reservations are not required, they are recommended.
Want to experience more of Bouchard Aîné et Fils? Then join the winemakers for a personalized lunch or dinner at their headquarters. Five different dining experiences are offered, starting at €46 per person, each beginning with the cellar visit and ending with a personalized meal in one of the mansion’s private rooms.
Marché Aux Vins
Best For: A large assortment of wines to purchase.
Marché Aux Vins is a large wine store specializing in Burgundy wines. They offer tours, tastings, and a wealth of knowledge. The large storefront is across from the Hospices of Beaune and is the most popular place to go for purchasing local wine. A fun fact about the shop is that it is housed in a former church. It was converted in 1977 to accommodate the selection of Burgundy wines.
Small group tours and tastings are available several times a day. The Découverte Tour includes a cellar visit and tasting of 5 wines for €25. For a more in-depth experience, book the Prestige Tour. Like the Découverte Tour, you will be taken down into the cellars but will sample a total of 7 wines. This tour includes four different Premiers Crus as well as a Grand Cru.
Larger group tours of 20 or more people are slightly less expensive, starting at €13, and offer similar experiences. No matter which you choose to join, make sure you reserve your spot online!
You don’t have to schedule a tour for a tasting, though! There are about a dozen wines available to sample before purchase. Make sure to ask a wine expert for help. They are incredibly knowledgeable and will point you in the right direction. And with thousands of wines on the shelves, you may need it! One of our favorite Burgundy wines was purchased here and came highly recommended by one of the staff members.
Conclusion
For those who love wine, there is no question that Burgundy is one of the top regions in France. If you’re looking for the best place to sample and learn about these world-renown wines, you will want to stay in Beaune. The wine capital is home to dozens of winemakers whose storefronts are within walking distance of the city center. And in addition to tastings, there are plenty of delicious restaurants and historical sites to visit.
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