10 must-see wineries | Beaune and the Beaune region Tourism

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01. Patriarche Cellars

Simply put, these are the largest wine cellars in Burgundy. The 5 kilometers of vaulted galleries, some of which date back to the 13th century, are the legacy of a Visitandine convent, or the female monastic order of the Visitation. More than 2 million bottles raised by this major wine merchant are preserved here. A visit to the Caves Patriarche is a memorable experience. You’ll experience a sensory journey through the land of Grands Crus. Beneath the cobblestones of Beaune, this labyrinth of tunnels and rooms is brimming with prestigious bottles.

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Maison Patriarche wine tasting in Beaune — ©Patriarch (5)

©Caves Patriarche Beaune Burgundy (12)|Gaelle Bourhis

Visit the 15th-century cellars of Maison Champy, formerly part of the convent of the Jacobine sisters of Beaune. — ©Champy House|Aurelien Ibanez

Maison Champy houses exceptional vintages in its cellars — ©Champy (2)|Boutique Champy;

2. La Maison Champy

Let’s discover Burgundy’s oldest wine house: Maison Champy. Aimé Champy launched his wine trading business in 1720. Witness to 3 centuries of history, this exceptional building in the heart of Beaune is listed as a historic monument. Next to the 15th century cellars, discover the winery designed by Gustave Eiffel in 1890, one year after the construction of the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris.

The Maison Champy promotes Burgundy wines throughout the world. It presents its nectars at various international or universal exhibitions (Amsterdam, Paris in 1889, Moscow and then Paris again in 1900). If our wine region is renowned today, it’s undoubtedly thanks in part to Champy.

A visit to Maison Champy is a journey back in time. You’ll meet this Beaune institution and the people who have contributed to its success. You’ll also come across Louis Pasteur, who conducted his research into wine conservation in collaboration with Beaune wine merchants, including Maison Champy.

The immersive experience is total, and continues with a tour of the 15th-century cellars. The dates on the bottles you come across on the tour make your head spin. It makes you feel so young in comparison. To recover from your emotions, a tasting awaits you at the end of the tour.

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3. Maison Bouchard Père et Fils

La Maison Bouchard Père & Fils moved into the Château de Beaune in 1820. But why does this wine house, founded in 1731, set up business in a château? Quite simply, because of the galleries lining the basement of this former 15th-century royal fortress.

There’s no question of locking up prisoners here, of course. The underground galleries are the ideal setting for Bouchard Père & Fils’ Grands Crus and Premiers Crus appellations. These are among the most prestigious appellations in the Climats de Bourgogne region, accounting for two-thirds of its production.

These oenological treasures are preserved with as much care as the crown jewels. A unique experience awaits you. The visit is private and by reservation only. It’s an intimate encounter with the great names of Burgundy wines: Bâtard-Montrachet, Corton-Charlemagne for the whites, Bonnes-Mares or Chambertin-Clos de Bèze for the reds.

Each visit ends, of course, with a tasting with commentary by the specialists at Maison Bouchard Père & Fils.

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©Chateau Pommard Vignes|chapuis-photo.com

©Cellars Pommard Degustation|Studio Piffaut

©Visit to the Pommard vineyards|Studio Piffaut

4. Château de Pommard

Let’s leave Beaune to discover the beautiful villages of Burgundy, villages with great names. Let’s start this journey in Côte de Beaune with Pommard and its Château. Located on the Route des Grands Crus, heading south, the Château de Pommard imposes its elegant silhouette on this pretty, typical Burgundy village. Built in the 18th century, its vocation has always been viticulture.

The various owners since then have never ceased to promote the Pinot noir grape variety. While the Pommard terroir has a reputation for robust, tannic wines, with age, the wines gain in subtlety and finesse, and are full of emotion.

This work on vines and wine, the teams at Château de Pommard invite you to discover it during various immersive tours. True oenological discoveries, these will take you through the château’s vineyards, Clos Marey-Monge, right up to the tasting, accompanied by WSET®* experts. And if you’re passionate about wine, you too can become a WSET® expert thanks to the oenology training courses offered by Ecole V. And what better way to learn than in the heart of iconic Pinot Noir vineyards?

*Wine and Spirit education Trust

Visits and tastings Oenology courses

5. Château Meursault

The discovery of the Route des Grands Crus continues as far as Meursault. Another of the Côte de Beaune’s great names, this terroir shines with the golden glow of Chardonnay the day after the harvest. This picturesque Burgundy village has as many manors and châteaux as it has streets. At the bend in one of them, just outside the village, the Château de Meursault invites you to visit a parcel of Chardonnay.

The Cistercian-style cellars are unique in Burgundy. Some date back to the 12th century, others to the 18th. Thus, 3,500 m2 of galleries and rooms, with majestic vaults and imposing pillars house Burgundy’s finest wines. Barrels lie side by side, sheltering delicious nectars. Aloxe-Corton, Beaune, Volnay, Pommard await their ageing here. The show is grandiose.

Visits to this prestigious estate, one of Burgundy’s largest at 65 hectares, are by reservation only. You’ll be accompanied by a guide who will tell you all about the history of the estate. He will explain the particularities of the Climats de Bourgogne and invite you to taste the château’s red and white wines.

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©chateau de meursault (2)|Château de Meursault

©chateau de meursault (3)|Antoine Muzard

©chateau-le-hardi|Château Philippe Le Hardi

©tonneau-le-hardi|Château Philippe Le Hardi

Chateau Santenay — ©Chateau de Santenay - Philippe le Hardi|Studio Piffaut

©caves-chateau-santenay|Office de Tourisme de Beaune & Pays Beaunois

6. Château Philippe le Hardi

Let’s move away from Beaune and head for Santenay, a spa town in wine country. Well-known for its curative thermal waters, Santenay is no less a producer of great Burgundy wines. Its vineyards boast 12 Premiers Crus. The Château de Philippe le Hardi stands high above the village. The site was already popular with the Romans, who built a castrum here. The first foundations of the château were laid in the 9th century. It was thanks to the Dukes of Burgundy and Philippe le Hardi that it flourished.

The glazed tiles, typical of Burgundy roofs, highlight one of Burgundy’s largest winegrowing estates. 98 hectares of vines are spread over the Côte de Beaune, Côte de Nuits and Côte Chalonnaise. From the winery to the mythical cellars of the Château Philippe le Hardi estate, you’ll learn more about the history, Climats and wines of Burgundy. As always in Burgundy, the tour ends with a tasting featuring wines from the 3 côtes: Beaune, Nuits and Chalonnaise.

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7. Château de Saint-Aubin

What if we took the schoolchildren’s route back to Beaune? And we know of a particularly pleasant one that will take you to some little-known sites in the Côte de Beaune and Hautes Côtes de Beaune. From Santenay, head north towards Saint-Romain. Maison Prosper Maufoux awaits you on the way at its pretty Château de Saint-Aubin, overlooking a vineyard at the entrance to the village.

This residence, once owned by the Comtesse de Trébon, descendant of a musketeer of the King of France, is now home to the Maison Prosper Maufoux winery. It’s a splendid showcase for the Chardonnay vintages that grow and mature on the famous Côte des Blancs.

The winery is a cathedral in honor of the great wines of Burgundy, and the château’s cellars today unveil a journey steeped in history. The visit is a discovery of winemaking methods. You’ll be introduced to the tasting of Burgundy crus.

And if it’s too cruel to leave this magical place, consider booking a table at Restaurant Prosper, on the château’s terrace overlooking the plot of a Saint-Aubin Premier Cru.

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©Prosper-Maufoux-S-Chapuis-clos-chateau|Serge Chapuis

©prosper-maufoux-daughters|Serge CHAPUIS

8. Domaine Rocault

Let’s rise to the sunny slopes of the Hautes Côtes to meet François Rocault. This winemaker, whose face and voice breathe terroir, will welcome you to his winery with open arms. It’s a hidden spot, nestled at the foot of the Orches cliffs, where the welcome here rhythms with authenticity.

15 appellations grown on 36 parcels of Hautes-Côtes, of course, but also Côte de Beaune, await you during your visit. But before you can hear the sound of the cork popping out of the bottle, you’ll get to know our Burgundy, that of our terroirs and customs. And, of course, our proud wines.

Your visit to Domaine Rocault is all about conviviality. You come to discover secret wines, and leave with a solid friendship and a few bottles… most certainly.

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9. Domaine Charles & Fille

Let’s take advantage of the exceptional view from the top of the cliffs to reach another family estate: Domaine Charles et Filles. In Burgundy, it’s all about transmission. This know-how that goes back so far, these gestures, this passion… they pass from one generation to the next, through the centuries.

A winemaker’s son and grandson, Pascal takes his daughter Pauline with him in the running of their 14-hectare estate, under the knowing gaze of grandfather François. The estate is located in a pretty village in the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune region, Nantoux, which is a real treat for lovers of wine and the beautiful Burgundy stone.

In addition to discovering the wines of a family estate, Pauline welcomes you to her table d’hôtes. You’ll be able to share a truly Burgundian experience and immerse yourself in the life of an estate.

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©Pauline Charles Winegrower|La Table de Pauline

©domaine-charles-nantoux|Office de Tourisme Beaune & Pays Beaunois

©tonneaux-vilamont|Office de Tourisme de Beaune & Pays Beaunois

10. Henri de Villamont

Let’s not return to Beaune just yet. Let’s make a little detour to the north and Savigny-les-Beaune. The Domaine Henri de Villamont awaits you. This estate is part of Burgundy’s winegrowing history. It was built by Léonce Bocquet, owner of Château du Clos de Vougeot, at the end of the 19th century, to house the vinification and ageing of wines from the owner’s various estates. Architect Charles Suisse, a disciple of Violet Le Duc, designed an original building for Burgundy, using a combination of brick and limestone. Today, it is one of the most majestic structures in winegrowing Burgundy.

The tour begins by taking you through the vineyards surrounding the estate. You’ll be introduced to the notion of Climats, those famous parcels of vines precisely delimited by man and recognized by name for centuries. A visit to the winery reveals the secrets of the winemaking process. Finally, a tour of the 2,400 m2 ageing cellars precedes a tasting of the estate’s red and white wines.

On this tour, you’ll come across some of Burgundy’s most prestigious names: Auxey-Duresses, Chambolle-Musigny, Chassagne-Montrachet, Grands Echezeaux…. It invites memories.

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