Burgundy

Depart for Paris, France on independent, overnight flights. 

Arrive Paris, France. Meet at 6.30pm for a short drive to dinner in Drouant, a chic and historic restaurant famous for its bourgeois cuisine and literary heritage as the site of the annual award of the Prix Goncourt, France’s most prestigious literary prize. 

After a tour of the restaurant, enjoy a fine dinner in the Salon Proust before a short trip back to your hotel.

Overnight: Hotel Edouard VII (D)

Depart Paris and head south to Chablis for a visit and tasting at William Fevre, one of the great domaines of the region dating from 1957. 

Enjoy a seasonal lunch at Le Maufoux Chablis nearby and continue to Beaune, arriving at Hotel Le Cep in the late afternoon.

Hotel Le Cep is a unique property, formed by the amalgamation of numerous smaller premises to create a truly one-off experience. No two bedrooms are the same - and all have been designed and furnished by proprietor-manager Jean-Claude Bernard. For example, one of the suites is completely fitted out with wallpapers and soft furnishings by Christian Lacroix. Le Cep’s location is also second to none, just a few steps from numerous shops and restaurants - and with the entire centre of Beaune no more than a few minutes away on foot. It is very characterfully not your average chain hotel, highly charming but very unusual.

In the evening, enjoy a ‘Crémant & Canapés’ reception in the courtyard.

Dinner is on your own.

Overnight: Hotel Le Cep (B, L)

After a lecture at the hotel by your Harvard Study Leader, set off for a visit to Chateau de Pommard. Pommard was bought by a Silicon Valley entrepreneur a few years back and has been massively transformed since and offers a wonderful visit and wines. Then make the short drive to Meursault to enjoy a private tasting and lunch in the chateau followed by a visit at Château de Meursault. The property changed hands a few years back and has seen huge improvement since and is a very impressive setting for some terrific wines. 

After the visit, return to the hotel where the evening is free.

Overnight: Hotel Le Cep (B, L)

The morning starts with a short visit to Domaine Evenstad (at 0930), a highly regarded winery in Santenay, followed by a visit and extended tasting at their beautiful 15th century Chateau de la Crée. Then move on to the delightful Olivier Leflaive winery in Puligny Montrachet to enjoy a tasting of the Leflaive wines over lunch at their bistro. 

In the afternoon enjoy an extended visit to Joseph Drouhin. Start with a visit to the vineyards of the Clos des Mouches with the tasting of a Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches white and red in the vines, followed by a visit to their historical cellars and the tasting of their most emblematic wines. 

Take a short stroll back to the hotel and enjoy a free evening.

Overnight: Hotel Le Cep (B, L)

After a lecture at the hotel by your Harvard Study Leader, drive to Dijon for a different perspective on the grandeur of Burgundy.

Take a guided visit and enjoy a gourmet tasting before a leisurely lunch at the very stylish Cite de la Gastronomie in the heart of the city. 

Continue with a short, guided walk through the magnificent old town of Dijon before driving back to Beaune.

After a rest at the hotel, take a short walk to dinner at the Michelin starred Le Carmin, which is in a charming square not far from the hotel.

Overnight: Hotel Le Cep (B, L, D)

After a short drive north, enjoy a visit to the prestigious Domaine Dujac, a critically lauded wine estate in Burgundy's Morey Saint Denis founded by the passionate winemaker Jacques Seysses. It produces a wide range of wines, from delicious ‘village’ wines up to exceptionally crafted, fine Grand Crus.

Then visit the brand-new winery, JC Boisset in Nuits-Saint-Georges for lunch and a tasting. 

In the afternoon, stop at Château du Clos de Vougeot, a historical chateau that was once a winery and sets the historical scene for the whole region in context. 

Return to Beaune for an evening at leisure.

Overnight: Hotel Le Cep (B, L)

After a final lecture at the hotel, enjoy a guided visit with Raymond to the weekly Beaune market in the morning. This is a fine place to gather gifts for home before free time for lunch followed by a guided visit to the Hospices de Beaune.

In the evening, enjoy a dinner at the modern style L’Expression, where you can try wines from parts of Burgundy not visited on this program and reflect on the different shades of the wines and landscapes that you’ve seen. 

Overnight: Hotel Le Cep (B, D)

After breakfast, depart the hotel and drive south, taking in the scenery of southern Burgundy and Beaujolais before arriving in Lyon for drop offs at the airport and city center. (B)