French Wine Expert An expert eye (and nose!)

A change of scenery without a change of soul is the art of this second day. From century-old cellars to man-made walls, from open-air Grands Crus to haute cuisine, Burgundy continues to tell its own story through contrasts and nuances. Between quiet strength and bursts of creativity, we discover that here, wine is never far from art. Or emotion!

In Nuits-Saint-Georges, Domaine Dufouleur Frères cultivates its vines as one cultivates a memory: with respect, exacting standards and a touch of audacity. The Pinot Noir comes in a range of subtle notes, from the finesse of a Côte de Nuits-Villages to the depth of a Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru “Les Saint-Georges”. As for the Chardonnay, it expresses itself with clarity in a Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits. Don’t miss a visit to the Oenothèque to discover all its subtleties.

Then on to Villars-Fontaine. Another tempo, another material. The former limestone quarry has become an open-air space where urban art takes over where you least expect it. Sculptures, giant frescoes, ephemeral installations… La Karrière surprises with its excess and its gentleness at the same time.

Beaune is waking up slowly, but not without a sparkle. Today, it’s all about the senses, with the sense of smell leading the way. From theHôtel-Dieu – Hospices de Beaune to the cellars, from the cobbled streets to the Michelin-starred dishes, a whole confidential Côte-d’Or is revealed.

Beaune, 10am. Under the flamboyant roofs of the Hôtel-Dieu – Hospices de Beaune, you can listen to history… but above all, you can smell it. Head to the cellars of the Hospices civils de Beaune for a workshop at the crossroads of the senses.

Wine isn’t something you taste straight away. First you smell it. Then comes jasmine, leather and notes of undergrowth. Using olfactory bottles, we learn to recognise the notes that shape a Corton or a Meursault. And little by little, the aromas tell us more than just about the grape varieties: they reveal a place, a time and an emotion. At the end, a glass of Hospices wine is offered to bridge the gap between memory and substance.

Beaune is never quite revealed at first glance. You have to go downstairs, look up and listen carefully. The “Ville en Cave” guided tour takes you behind the scenes of the capital of Burgundy wines. A piece of history, between the Middle Ages and great vintages.

And then the moment takes shape. Two options, two atmospheres. At Domaine Chanson, push open the door to an emblematic estate housed in a 15th-century tower.

Alternatively, head to the Burgundy Wine School. During a workshop, you can learn to taste in a different way. Putting words to sensations, recognising a terroir in a glass. In Beaune, you never really stop learning. Even when you’re a Wine Expert!

Day four, and already you feel like you’ve discovered a thousand faces of the Côte d’Or, the heart of winegrowing Burgundy. But this morning, yet another facet is revealed for your pleasure.

In Pommard, the vines speak. With Les Divignes, the stroll takes on an air of confidence. You’ll stroll between hundred-year-old low walls, dry-stone huts and emblematic plots, following the lines of the UNESCO-listed Climats. Here, everything has a meaning: the orientation, the soil, the name.

Then, off to Domaine Coste-Caumartin, a discreet and historic neighbour, established in Pommard since the 18th century. In the vaulted cellars, a guided tasting takes you on a journey from the fruitiness of a Pinot Noir to the structure of a Pommard.

A change of pace for a change of route. Aboard a convertible 2CV, the Route des Grands Crus de Bourgogne takes on a whole new dimension. My French Tour takes you on a bucolic and joyful journey through the legendary villages of the Côte de Beaune. Between two bends, a few well-chosen stops, time to take a fresh look at the Climats and the gestures that have shaped wine for centuries.

At Puligny-Montrachet, the Chardonnay is revealed through two eyes, two experiences and the same terroir. At Domaine Jean Chartron, classicism is expressed with finesse: straightforward, taut, precise wines, a faithful reflection of the mineral elegance of Burgundy’s great whites. Just a stone’s throw away, Maison Chanzy offers a sensory immersion experience with “L’Essentiel”, a guided tour combining tasting with commentary, olfactory exploration and landscape reading.

The fifth day doesn’t close on a parenthesis, it extends it. A final escapade to the rhythm of the light: the morning light that gilds the walls and the evening light that glides over the stones.

Put on your trainers for this final morning! The Meursault-Blagny trail, accessible via the Balades en Bourgogne app, takes you through low walls, groves and plots of land. At every turn, you’ll discover a different perspective on Meursault, Volnay and Monthélie.

And as a natural extension, the Château de Meursault welcomes you for a wine tasting on a grand scale. In the majestic setting of the vaulted cellars, the whites are revealed in all their complexity, from the immediate charm of a Meursault Village to the vibrant depth of a Premier Cru. Walk, taste, understand: that’s how the memory of a landscape is anchored.

To round off this journey in style, head for Saint-Aubin, between the sky and the vines. The more contemplative will opt for a road trip in a vintage vehicle with Millésime Drive: a trip with retro charm along the back roads of the Côte. The more active can hop on an electric bike, hired from Château de Saint-Aubin, for a bucolic escapade along the Voie des Vignes.