Old vintages rest in the rock-cut cellar of Domaine de la Chopinière du Roy, part of Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil’s wine landscape. A tour leads into this setting before a tasting compares older wines with the estate’s current cuvées. Cabernet franc from Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil and Bourgueil sits alongside Chenin Blanc, rosé and Crémant de Loire in the estate’s range.
Tag: guided-tours
Valençay: Behind the Doors of Talleyrand’s Palace
Doors usually closed to the public open onto less familiar parts of Talleyrand’s princely palace at Valençay. Unusual guided visits explore spaces already restored and others still awaiting restoration. Secret rooms and a garden extend the encounter beyond the regular visitor route, making the care and changing condition of this historic estate part of the experience.
Costumons-nous: Period Dress at Montrésor
Period dress changes the perspective on a visit to Montrésor’s château during Costumons-nous. Families and friends can try on costumes and pose for photographs before continuing through the castle. The activity evokes a medieval atmosphere, while voluntary contributions help maintain the existing wardrobe and support the making of new costumes.
Arbois Guided Tour: Wine History and Louis Pasteur
Arbois reveals its links with Jura wine and Louis Pasteur on a guided walk through the town. Saint-Just Church, Pécauld Castle and Bontemps Castle help trace a history that includes a long period outside France. The route connects these monuments with the development of the vineyards and Pasteur’s early life.
Bouchard Aîné & Fils: Normandie Wine Tasting
A Normandie-themed tasting with Bouchard Aîné & Fils unfolds across nine stops, from historic salons to wine cellars. A welcome glass precedes eight Burgundy wines, including a white drawn from the barrel, two Hospices de Beaune cuvées and two Grands Crus. Six gourmet pairings accompany the sequence, with Corton-Charlemagne and Charmes-Chambertin among the featured wines.
Domaine Marguerite Carillon: Wine and Food Pairings
Domaine Marguerite Carillon joins forces with Le Charlemagne for a tasting of eight Burgundy wines in Meursault. Chef Rudy Villien creates surprise food pairings for cuvées from the Hospices de Beaune and Grands Crus such as Corton-Charlemagne and Clos de Vougeot. A visit to the winery and vaulted cellars adds a look at the production setting to the tasting programme.
Musée de la Vigne et du Vin: Heritage Visits
Jura winegrowers’ working lives and winemaking methods run through this museum visit in Arbois. A reconstructed vineyard setting leads into displays covering Ploussard, Trousseau, Chardonnay, Vin de paille, Macvin and Vin Jaune. Guided and self-guided visits are complemented by children’s games and a quiz, while an INAO exhibition examines the history of official agricultural quality labels.
Hospices de Beaune: Building a New Hospital
Aurélie Waller, Head of Works at the Hospices Civils de Beaune, examines how hospital architecture responds to changing care. The visit and discussion connect the construction of a new hospital with the project of Nicolas Rolin and Guigone de Salins. From the Hôtel-Dieu’s “palace for the poor” to the Centre hospitalier Philippe le Bon, buildings reveal different ambitions for treating patients.
Hospices de Beaune: Preserving Hospital Heritage
Hospital heritage in Beaune unfolds through guided walks, talks and encounters with costumed hospital sisters carrying medical instruments and apothecary jars. Sister Louise Duchini recounts changes in nursing and relationships with patients. Conservation specialists explain the protection of the collections and the creation of a facsimile of the Last Judgement polyptych using digital techniques.