Luxury Wine Tour of France: 11-Day Food & Wine Experience

In the morning, take your time enjoying the spa and leisurely breakfast before departing for the Champagne Philippe Gonet winery, where for seven generations the Gonet family has produced iconic champagnes. After a private tour of the vineyards and cellars, you will experience the wines firsthand at a tasting and lunch with the winemakers themselves, as they lead us through their most-loved bottles.

Following this, we will travel to the village of Chablis, where we will tour the Domaine de la Mandeliere winery and taste through their meticulously crafted wines.

On we will go to the city of Beaune in the heart of Burgundy, where you will have time to settle into your accommodations at the five-star l’Hotel de Beaune. The walls of the hotel bring together two historic buildings, the Hôtel particulier that belonged to the Jadot Family, famous Burgundy wine merchants, and the former Carmel de Beaune with its 16th-century cloister. Both the architecture and the warm service are emblematic of Beaune.

For our dinner together, we will enjoy elevated, classic French fare in a stunning setting, along with thoughtfully paired Burgundy wines.

Wines: Brut, Rosé Brut, Blanc de Blanc Extra Brut, Noir Extra Brut, Grand Cru Brut, Grand Cru Extra Brut, Crémant de Bourgogne, Chablis, Chablis Premier Cru
Meals: Breakfast; Lunch at the estate of Champagne Philippe Gonet; Multi-course dinner with wine pairings
Activity: Two winery tours and tastings
Accommodation: Luxury 5-star hotel in a historic setting in the center of Beaune

This day is yours to enjoy, going at your own speed to take in the storied beauty of Beaune, a walled medieval town with one of the longest histories of viticulture in France. If you like, join us in the late morning for a private walking tour along the town’s cobblestone streets.

Go antique shopping, walk the ramparts, and have lunch at one of the cafés or bistros that line Beaune’s central square. Visit the Musée de l’Hôtel-Dieu – Hospices de Beaune in the town center—with its 15th-century foundations, Gothic architecture, and mosaic tile roof—which owns some of the most exceptional vineyard plots in Burgundy.

Together again, you will have the option of joining host Adam Richard for an intimate wine tasting. He will pour exceptional wines from two boutique Uva wineries that have cellars too small to visit with a group. This will be a unique opportunity to taste through some special Burgundy bottles.

Following the tasting, you can opt to learn hands-on about the food of the region at a convivial cooking class with a local chef focused on the symbiotic relationship between gastronomy and wine. With her guidance, we will prepare and share a four-course menu paired with Burgundy wines.

Wines: Pouilly-Fuissé Premier Cru, Viré-Clessé, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru, Gevrey-Chambertin
Meals: Breakfast; Four-course dinner prepared together with a local chef
Activity: Free time to explore Beaune; Optional cooking class and group dinner
Accommodation: Luxury 5-star hotel in a historic setting in the center of Beaune

This leisurely morning will be perfect for visiting the market in Place de la Halle, where you will find everything from vine-fresh tomatoes to exquisite patisserie to Beaune’s iconic artisanal mustard.

Then we will depart together for a nearby winery. A tour of the cellar will lead us to a wine tasting and lunch of the most classic Burgundian dishes, including boeuf Bourguignon and gratin Dauphinois.

Back in Beaune, we hope you will join us for a fun, interactive workshop on the art of barrel-making.

This evening will be perfect for a date night on your own. You will be free to enjoy a sunset stroll and dinner at your choice of Beaune’s many lovely eateries, from wine bars to Michelin-starred restaurants.

Wines: Corton Grand Cru, Bourgogne, Meursault, Aloxe-Corton
Meals: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner on your own in Beaune
Activity: Winery tour and tasting; Optional interactive barrel-making workshop
Accommodation: Luxury 5-star hotel in a historic setting in the center of Beaune

After a final breakfast in Beaune, we will travel together to Lyon, a city partitioned by the Rhône and Saône rivers and webbed with twenty-eight bridges. Our first stop in what is known as the gastronomic capital of France will be Les Halles de Lyon – Paul Bocuse. This revered indoor food market is the epicurean heart of the city, home to some of the city’s best food artisans, including butchers, cheesemongers, fishmongers, bakeries, and chocolatiers. Following an exclusive guided tour, you will have free time to browse the produce, truffles, spices, and flowers and to enjoy a bite at one of the market’s fabulous eateries.

Leaving the market, a funicular ride will take us to the top of the hill of Fourvière, overlooking the city. Along with breathtaking views, here we will find the Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière, a stunning piece of architecture marked by a unique blend of Byzantine, Gothic, and Romanesque styles, as well as an ancient Roman amphitheater constructed over two thousand years ago.

Back down the hill, we will arrive at our five-star accommodations, the Hotel Dieu, centered in a grand historic building dating to the 13th century. For the rest of the afternoon, you can enjoy the magical views of the Rhône River or refresh and relax at Spa Cinq Mōndes.

Then, dinner. A truly superlative experience awaits us at an iconic, Michelin two-star restaurant. Elegant and luxurious, this will be a meal you will never forget.

Wines: Champagne, Saumur, Chinon, Saint-Estephe, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Meals: Breakfast; Multi-course dinner at Michelin 2-star restaurant paired with French wines
Activity: Guided tour of Lyon’s premier indoor food market; Funicular ride and sightseeing
Accommodation: Luxury 5-star hotel located in a 13th-century building in the heart of Lyon

This is your day to relax and explore Lyon. If you desire, join us for a guided tour of Lyon’s famous traboules, hidden corridors, and staircases that vein the city, the first of which originated in the 4th century. We will walk these unique passageways through Vieux Lyon, the city’s atmospheric old town, and the artsy La Croix Rousse neighborhood, discovering something different in each one—Renaissance-style windows, vaulted ceilings, picturesque courtyards. This is a quintessential Lyon experience.

We will lunch together, enjoying contemporary French dishes that pay tribute to traditional, wholesome, rustic Lyonnaise cuisine.

Later in the day, you are welcome to join us as we explore the history of the silk industry in Lyon. First, we will visit the last family-run silk weaving workshop in Lyon, that of the late master silk weaver, Georges Mattelon, for a demonstration of silk weaving.

After a short walk to take in the hilltop neighborhood of the La Croix Rousse, with its emblematic architecture, boutiques, and cafés, our next destination will be l’Atelier Brochier, a distinguished silk house established in 1890. Here we will experience a traditional silk printing workshop, learning hands-on about the different printing techniques. You will have plenty of time to shop here as well, as the house produces exquisite silk goods, even partnering to develop new fabrics for artists and couture designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino, and Dior.

The rest of the evening is yours! We can offer suggestions for a special dinner on your own.

Wines: Crozes Hermitage Blanc, Palette Rouge
Meals: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner on your own with recommendations
Activity: Walking tour of the Traboules & Vieux Lyon; Silk Discovery Afternoon Tour
Accommodation: Luxury 5-star hotel located in a 13th-century building in the heart of Lyon

Today we leave Lyon and travel into the Northern Rhône wine region. Our first stop will be the winery of Louis Cheze, where we will receive a private tour and tasting. The vineyards here are vast, as are the splendid views of the rolling, verdant countryside.

We will then travel to the charming village of Mirmande, wandering its narrow, medieval streets to lunch on elegantly prepared, traditional dishes in a stone courtyard draped in honeysuckle.

After lunch, we will go to Châteauneuf-du-Pape and the Clos du Calvaire Winery, where the fifth and sixth generations of winemakers will guide us through their vineyards and cellar and lead us in a tasting.

We will conclude our day’s travels in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, a picture-perfect village in the heart of the Alpilles. We will stay at the Hôtel Le Saint-Rémy, an elegant and tranquil five-star hotel in a renovated 19th-century townhouse.

For dinner, we will feast together, sharing classic French dishes and outstanding Provençal wine.

Wines: Saint-Joseph Rouge, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rouge
Meals: Breakfast; Lunch; Multi-course dinner with wine pairings
Activity: Two winery tours and tastings
Accommodation: Luxury 5-star hotel in a 19th-century townhouse

This day is yours to explore picturesque Saint-Rémy! The narrow, winding lanes of the village are lined with stunning Renaissance mansions, chapels, and galleries. Vincent Van Gogh was a patient at the Monastère Saint-Paul-de-Mausole (which you can tour), and you can follow the artist’s footsteps through the sites of his inspiration along the Van Gogh walking path. Visit the archeological site of the ancient Roman city of Glanum. Lunch at a café of our recommendation in the quaint square at the village center. And back at the hotel, refresh with a massage or a dip in the serene pool.

In the evening, we will dine like royalty at a Michelin-starred restaurant located in a 17th-century palace in the heart of Saint-Rémy. The modern Provençal cuisine stars locally caught seafood and vegetables from the restaurant’s own garden and pairs beautifully with carefully chosen wines from the region.

Wines: Les Baux de Provence Rose, Alpilles Blanc, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Baux de Provence Rouge
Meals: Breakfast; Multi-course dinner with wine pairings at a Michelin-starred restaurant
Activity: Free time to explore Saint-Rémy
Accommodation: Luxury 5-star hotel in a 19th-century townhouse

You can choose whether to spend this day relaxing in Saint-Rémy or join us for a day trip to the nearby city of Arles. Another site of inspiration for Van Gogh and other artists such as Gauguin, Cezanne, and Picasso, Arles is a breathtaking confluence of ancient history and modern French life.

After a walking tour upon our arrival, you will be free to explore what the city has to offer on your own. The Arles Amphitheater, built by the Romans in the 1st century B.C. and in use again today, is a must-see, as is the Espace Van Gogh, once a hospital that treated the artist during his time in Arles and now a library, gallery, and garden. We will offer recommendations for lovely lunch options, and you will have plenty of time to meander the pedestrian promenades and people-watch in one of the city’s beautiful plazas.

Back in Saint-Remy, you may spend the evening how you wish! We can recommend excellent restaurants in the village for a romantic date night on your own.

Wines: Côtes du Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Meals: Breakfast; Dinner on your own with recommendations
Activity: Optional day trip to the city of Arles with a walking tour
Accommodation: Luxury 5-star hotel in a 19th-century townhouse

What better way to end our time together than reveling in the lavender fields of Provence? After leaving Saint-Rémy, we will travel to the Terraroma farm in the heart of the Valensole plateau, where we will have our chance to take in the magical vista and aroma of the iconic rolling hills of lavender. The Jaubert family has farmed this land for four generations, and we will have a private tour of their estate and the opportunity to browse their extraordinary lavender goods, almonds, and honey.

We will travel on to our hotel, the Hostellerie de l’Abbaye de la Celle, an 18th-century inn reimagined by Alain Ducasse into a luxurious and serene retreat surrounded by vineyards, olive groves, and cypress trees. You will have time to recharge in your room—each unique to the others—or to refresh at the pool amidst the cypress and lavender.

Our final dinner together will be an extraordinary meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant, where the chefs will execute dishes inspired by the local seafood and vegetables from the restaurant’s own gardens, and we will keep your glasses full with thoughtfully paired Provençal wines.

Wines: Côtes de Provence, Coteaux Varois en Provence Blanc
Meals: Breakfast; Multi-course dinner with wine pairings at a Michelin-starred restaurant
Activity: Tour and shopping at Lavender Farm
Accommodation: Luxury 5-star hotel in a renovated 18th-century inn

This morning, you will transfer by bus to the Nice Côte d’Azur airport. However, if you wish to extend your time in France, we are very happy to offer suggestions to make the most of your stay!

Meals: Breakfast
Activity: Transfer to the Nice Côte d’Azur airport