We had such great feed-back from those who came with us to Champagne and Bordeaux last year that we have decided to organise a further two tours in the spring of this year.

Here are the details:-

EARLY SPRING IN BURGUNDY – 2nd TO 7th MAY 2009 - LAST FEW PLACES REMAINING

6 Days/5 Nights, 10 Tastings, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners

Saturday, 2nd May

We make an early start from central London in our executive coach for the journey to Dover and through the Tunnel to Calais. Then by autoroute to our overnight stop at the Auberge du Relais Fleurie, just outside Avallon. Dinner in the hotel will be preceded by a tutored tasting of the wines of the Chablis region.

Sunday, 3rd May

After breakfast, we drive into the nearby town of Chablis (you will be able to see for yourselves the 'premier cru' and 'grand cru' vineyards) and visit a top producer for a tasting. After a leisurely lunch, we drive through the vineyards of the Auxerrois to the cellars of Burgundy’s biggest producer of sparkling wine, Bailly-Lapierre, for a visit and a tasting. Then it’s back onto the autoroute and southwards to our final destination, the historic walled city of Beaune, centre of the Burgundy wine trade. After checking-in to our hotel, you will be free to explore the city centre, where you will find plenty of places to eat and drink.

Monday 4th May

Our first visit and tasting will be to a family estate in the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune. Then over the hill to find lunch in one of the many cafés in the pretty village of Nuits-St-Georges before setting off to our next tasting. We will drive along the Route du Vin through famous villages of the Côte de Nuits such as Gevrey-Chambertin and Vosne-Romanée, pausing to take a look at La Romanée-Conti and other world-famous grand cru vineyards. Dinner is not included this evening, but you will be welcome to join your tour guides at a local restaurant.

Tuesday 5th May

Today we travel south to the Maconnais for tastings in the village of Pouilly-Fuissé. After lunch in the village, we will drive past the famous Solutré rock on our way back to the Côte de Beaune, where we will have a tasting in the village of Pommard before returning to our hotel. Your evening is free, so a chance to spoil yourselves with a visit to one of Beaune’s fine restaurants - the new Bernard Loiseau place or the Michelin starred Au Jardin des Remparts, perhaps?

Wednesday 6th May

Southwards again today, along the Côte de Beaune for a tasting in Saint-Aubin. We take a look at the famous vineyards of Puligny and Chassagne-Montrachet, and then go back up the Route du Vin to Meursault. You will be able to find lunch or a snack in one of the restaurants in this pretty village. In the afternoon, we visit a top Meursault producer before returning to Beaune. If you’re not too exhausted, you could fit in a visit to the Hospice de Beaune which is very beautiful and of great interest to wine lovers. We meet for a final dinner together at a top local restaurant.

Thursday 7th May

After breakfast, we set off for home, pausing on the way for one last tasting at a small estate on the Côte de Nuits. We will stop for lunch en route and arrive back in central London mid-evening.


Tour Price (Per Person)

Sharing a room £745
Supplement for single room occupancy £100

On all visits, you will be able to buy the wines tasted at advantageous prices.

LATE SPRING IN CHAMPAGNE – 23rd to 25th MAY 2009

3 Days/2 Nights, 5 Tastings, 2 Dinners

Saturday 23rd May

Early morning departure from central London in our executive coach for the journey to Dover and through the Tunnel to Calais. We then drive across the gently undulating plains of northern France to the Champagne region with a brief stop in Arras where you will be able to find lunch.. On arrival in Reims, historic capital of the region, we visit one of the top Champagne houses - just to get us off to a flying start! After checking in to our hotel, we have dinner together at a nearby restaurant.

Sunday 24th May

After breakfast we drive to one of the 'grand cru' villages on the Montagne de Reims to visit a small family producer who makes top-quality Champagne. Then into the town of Epernay where you will be able to find a bite to eat in one of the bustling cafes around the Place de la République. After a visit to one of the big Champagne houses nearby, we return to Reims, pausing for a tasting in one of the ‘grand cru’ villages on the way. There should be time to squeeze in a visit to the magnificent Gothic Cathedral of Notre Dame, before gathering for dinner at a restaurant just a short walk from the hotel.

Monday, 25th May

After breakfast, we return to the Montagne de Reims to visit a further small family producer before setting off on the road for home. We will stop for lunch en route and arrive back in central London mid-evening.

Tour Price (Per Person)

Sharing a room £395
Supplement for single room occupancy £50

For a copy of the tour brochure and a booking form, please contact Sandy Leckie by telephone (020 8991 8213) or email (sandy@wine-education-service.co.uk).