A vineyard, a village

Dijon is the official starting point for the Route des Grands Crus de Bourgogne, and sets the ball rolling in style. As the capital of the Dukes of Burgundy, the city combines a remarkable heritage, gourmet culture and art of living, even before you reach the first vineyards. Here, history can be read in the stones of the old town centre, from the Dukes’ Palace to the town houses, while Burgundian flavours are expressed in the markets, in the city’s cellars and in its renowned restaurants.

Dijon is not a wine-growing village in the strict sense of the word, but it is a key one. It’s here that you can understand Burgundy, its UNESCO-listed Climats, its grape varieties and its traditions, notably at the Cité internationale de la gastronomie et du vin. Just a few minutes away, Marsannay-la-Côte marks the entrance to the vineyards: the Route leaves the city, but the Burgundian spirit is already well established. Dijon sets the tone: cultural, gourmet and deeply Burgundian.

To the north of Beaune, the Côte de Nuits concentrates the intensity of Burgundy’s vineyards. Here, the villages are like mythical names engraved in the history of wine: Marsannay-la-Côte, Gevrey-Chambertin, Morey-Saint-Denis, Chambolle-Musigny, Vosne-Romanée, Nuits-Saint-Georges… So many emblematic stops where pinot noir expresses all its depth, finesse and power.

In these villages on a human scale, you can experience our heritage on a daily basis: centuries-old cellars, winegrowers’ houses, Romanesque churches and vineyards as far as the eye can see. Each alleyway leads to a story, each plot tells the story of a climate, each encounter reveals a know-how handed down over the centuries. Here, wine is never static: it accompanies the seasons, local festivals and the Burgundian art of living.

To the south of Beaune, the Côte de Beaune offers a succession of villages where the vineyards are as elegant as they are beautiful. Here, the great whites of Burgundy rub shoulders with characterful reds, and each village cultivates its own personality between blonde stone, historic clos and renowned estates. Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Pommard, Savigny-lès-Beaune and Santenay: world-famous names, but above all lively places, shaped by generations of winegrowers.

Stroll through the streets lined with manor houses, push open the door of a vaulted cellar, cross the UNESCO-listed Climats du vignoble de Bourgogne, before enjoying a meal in a village square or cycling along the vineyards. Between heritage, gastronomy, art of living and open landscapes, the Côte de Beaune offers a gentle and luminous interpretation of the Route des Grands Crus de Bourgogne.