Fine Wine At Beaune

By: Vaniitha Jaiin, On: October 12, 2015


Vast vineyards, medieval towns, charming chateaux, Gothic churches and romanticism was the flavor of my next destination, Burgundy.

 

The region’s prime cultivation is Pinot Noir grapes, thus some of the best red wines in the world are from here. So, from Champagne, my friend and I headed to the region’s wine capital, Beaune.

It’s a known fact that Beaune has some of the finest (read luxurious) wine houses in the world and is a paradise for wine tasting in France. Our pit-stop for a romance with the local wines was at Patriarche Père & Fils cellar, one of the oldest and largest confederation of wine traders and breeders in Burgundy. It houses some of the oldest (1904 is the oldest vintage wine), an extensive range (three million bottles) and expensive premier cru and grand cru wines. Patriarche’s distinctiveness also is the 5-km long cellars that date back to the 17th century and restored in same design and style.

As my friend knew Jean-Michel Gallette, in-charge of visits at Patriarche, we had an invigorating tasting tour experience, sipping and talking about the history and mystery of wine as we walked through the lengthy caved larder. It was filled with rows and rows of oak barrels topped with candles that illuminated the dark cellar. The quantity and quality of wines was exceptional, as a result by the time we got out of the cellar we were in high spirits in more than one way.

After the intoxicating tour at Patriarche we spent rest of the day roaming around the cobbled streets and colourful markets of Beaune. And that’s where we discovered the town’s beautiful design which elegantly blends modern mood and ancient architecture. One of the peculiarities that add to Beaune’s visual glory is the old style buildings adorned with unique glazed tile patterned rooftops. It such a wonderful sight on the streets of Beaune. Meanwhile, the markets are a must-visit for shopaholics, especially the wine variety; by the end of the day our bags were filled with wines, marmalades and knick-knacks that may or may not be needed.

Our next stop was Dijon where I stayed the night over. It was an hour’s drive from Beaune and one the most mesmerising routes in my entire trip. As soon as we got out of Beaune’s city limits we were welcomed by large and lush fields of some of the greatest wines of Burgundy (Vosne-Romanée, Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin et al. Vosne-Romanée is the largest cru of Burgundy and one of the most expensive in the world. La Romanée-Conti makes 6000 bottles of wine per year and each bottle is priced EUR 500 onwards). The drive was like the perfect pudding to end an already delicious dinner. As soon as it ended, I bid adieu to my friend and continued my journey further down southern of France to scour a different side of the scintillating spirit.

*Pictures in the slide show will take you through my journey to Beaune and Beyond…


About Us

The Perfect Pour is your destination to demystify the overwhelming world of wonderful wonders – wine, whisky, gin, tequila, beer, brandy, vodka, rum, etc. Find out What, Why, When, Where and How to drink your favourite beverage. ..

Read More

About Vaniitha

Wine & Spirits Specialist. Whisky Enthusiast. Marketing Wizard. Globetrotter. Runner. Passionate. Just a few words that concisely but aptly define me, Vaniitha Jaiin. ..

Read More