When international travellers speak of the superiority of French wine; two names often are brought to the table - that of Bordeaux in the southwest and that of Burgundy in central eastern France. However, what some don’t realise is that Burgundy is not only a prime wine region but also the self-proclaimed ‘land of fine art and living’. In Conte’s opinion, the best time for luxury holidays to France, and by proxy, Burgundy, is September, offering the perfect chance to experience harvesting the grapes and blending the wines yourself amongst the leisurely hum of the tail end of summer.
Luxury Holidays to France: Not Complete Without a Trip to Burgundy
Burgundy’s most famed city, Dijon, is often crowned as the culinary capital of France - and for good reason. The home of Dijon mustard, bœuf bourguignon and coq au vin, to name but a few recognizable dishes, it has a culinary heritage that perhaps outlives the region - and is highlighted in Conte's Food Journeys in France. The rest of the area could be described as a league of charming villages home to esteemed vintners and ancient communes alongside romantic landscapes. Cluny, previously an important religious and cultural centre still boasts the Abbey of Cluny III, which held the title of being one of the largest churches in Christendom for around 200 years. In Dijon itself, the half-timbered houses, Ducal Palace and toits bourguignons (Burgundian terracotta rooftops) will entice you into diving deeper into one of the best cultural and architectural destinations in Europe.
However, one would be mistaken to overlook the prominent wine legacy of this region. The southern Mâconnais wine-making towns of Mâcon and Viré-Clessé produce Chardonnay wines unlike any other - in fact, so acclaimed they are often dubbed ‘White Burgundy’ so as not to associate them with the Chardonnay grape. Further upwards, the sprawling Côte d’Or region holds the secrets of many great appellations, including Chassagne-Montrachet in Côte de Beaune and Gevrey-Chambertin in Côte de Nuits. While Chablis, 60 miles north, and Hermitage (further South) are notable and worth visiting, Conte suggests a more curated selection spread over multiple trips. Perhaps a few days browsing the Grand and Premier Cru Classé vineyards will allow you to exercise the French art of joie vivre fully; to allow yourself time to luxuriate in the panoramic surroundings and culinary excellence is a luxury only afforded to few destinations - Burgundy, of course, being one of them.
Of course, longer multi-stop trips throughout the other famed wine regions, including Bordeaux, Provence, and the Loire Valley are easily the best way to explore France from the perspective of someone interested in viticulture - the Conte luxury wine tours of France, you might say - and there is a great deal else in these destinations worth seeing as well.