Champagne, Burgundy and Bordeaux
On this nine-day trip you'll gain a deeper appreciation for the produce that make France a food and wine-lover’s dream. Your journey fittingly begins in a sparkling manner in Champagne, before taking in Burgundy, a fairytale region of Renaissance chateaux, villages and abbeys, between Paris and Lyon. The final leg of your journey sees you spending four nights in Bordeaux, where restored neoclassical architecture meets rolling vineyards.
Trip highlights
- Discover the techniques and secrets of the “Méthod Champenoise”
- Enjoy a private tour of Reims, the principal Champagne-tasting town
- Experience tours and tastings in the Côtes de Beaune and Médoc wine regions
- Stay in stately chateaus and in luxury hotels with Michelin-star restaurants
- Visit the medieval village of Saint-Émilion and its surrounding vineyards
- Taste the culinary specialities of southwest France in Bordeaux
Our bespoke trips include
We design one-of-a-kind journeys incorporating luxury in all its forms. Our bespoke trips include:
- Luxury accommodation throughout
- Privately guided tours
- Private transfers
- Meticulously selected experiences
- Expertise and support from your Jacada Concierge
Itinerary in detail
Days 1–3
Two sparkling nights in Champagne
Just a few hours northeast of Paris, you’ll find the sweeping, lush vineyards of Champagne, best known for its sparkling white wine production that bears the region’s name. The 86,000 acres of rolling hills and vineyards produce primarily Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes, all three of which are cultivated to produce the liquid gold. Listen out for the decadent sounds of popping corks, bubbles fizzing and clinking glasses echoing throughout the province.
The best of Champagne
Wine-tasting
Sightseeing
Visit Champagne houses and vineyards
Explore the Champagne region and visit some of the boutique producers. Meet a winemaker who will share their passion with you and discover the secrets of the “Méthod Champenoise”. Visit he property of Champagne Henri Guiraud in the Grand Cru village of Ay; explore the vineyards of Epernay; and wander the narrow streets of Hautvillers, the burial place of monk Dom Perignon.
Highlights of Reims, the Champagne town
Your private guide will meet you at your hotel and take you out to the town of Reims, considered as the principal Champagne tasting town. Explore the ornate UNESCO Reims Cathedral, marvelling at the gothic architecture and symbolism, before heading to Ruinart, the oldest Champagne House in Reims. See the cellars in the chalk mining pit that have been recognised as a historical monument since 1931.
Days 3–5
Two nights in the rural heartland of Burgundy
Sitting pretty between Paris and Lyon in east-central France, you’ll discover that Burgundy is a fairytale land of Renaissance chateaux, medieval abbeys, fortified villages and rolling vineyards. One of France’s most prosperous and wealthy regions, at least in part in thanks to the huge success of its vineyards, which produce some of the most prestigious and expensive wines in the world such as Pinot Noir, Chablis and Beaujolais.
Where you could stay
Hostellerie Cèdre & Spa – Beaune
The best of Burgundy
Heritage
wine estates
cuisine
Visit Les Hospices de Beaune
One of the highlights of any visit to this part of France is a stop at Les Hospices de Beaune. You will enjoy a privately guided tour of the gothic monument with its intricate facades and glazed roofs lined with bright colours and geometric shapes. You will also have the opportunity to see The Last Judgement by Rogier Van Weyden (c.1445-1450).
A tour of the Côte de Beaune wine region
Stop in at various Côtes de Beaune estates for wine tastings, art and food. Highlights include visits and tastings at Château Pommard and Château de Meursault.
A French cooking experience
You will begin the day with a visit to a popular local market where you will select your ingredients for the cooking class. Tie on your crisp white apron and sip a glass of chilled Champagne as you get ready to prepare a menu featuring seasonal ingredients fresh from the market. Learn some classic cooking techniques that you can take home with you. After the class, you will make yourself comfortable in the dining room where you will enjoy your lunch paired with wines from the region.
Days 5–9
Four nights in UNESCO-listed Bordeaux
Dubbed ‘the very essence of elegance’ by none other than the late Queen Elizabeth II, Bordeaux city shines bright with a grandiose 18th-century harmony epitomised in the beautifully restored neoclassical architecture of its port. In 2007 half of the city, some 1,810 hectares, was certified by UNESCO making it the world’s largest Urban UNESCO heritage site.
But it’s more likely for its viticulture that you’ll be familiar with Bordeaux. The south west of France has been producing wine since the Romans arrived in the 1st century AD and is today, without doubt, the world’s major wine industry capital.
The best of Bordeaux
The Médoc
The waterfront
Saint-Émilion
Organic wine tour in the Médoc
Spend a flavour-filled day exploring the prestigious Médoc wine region north of Bordeaux, visiting organic vineyards and savouring a locally-sourced lunch at a renowned château.
Together with your driver guide you’ll set off along France’s D2 highway, the route des châteaux. Your first stop will be at Château Haut Bages Libéral in the town of Pauillac where you’ll explore the winery before heading out into the vines to learn about the profound benefits of their traditional, environmentally diverse approach to winemaking.
After a tour, you’ll enjoy a tasting of wines produced by Claire Lurton, voted world’s best winemaker in 2024, followed by a private chef-curated lunch featuring all-local organic produce in the chateau.
UNESCO Bordeaux city tour
Walk by treasures along the waterfront – Palais de la Bourse, in the Triangle d’Or, the Grand Theatre and some private mansions, and visit the dock wine merchant warehouses by the old docks. Along the way, you will make stops to taste some of the best culinary specialities from the South West of France, like hams, cheese and canelés.
Saint-Émilion village and wineries
This morning your driver-guide will meet you at your hotel. Cross the Garonne River to the Right Bank and arrive in the enchanting medieval village of Saint-Émilion, classified by UNESCO in 1999. A luminous, ochre-hewed jewel built of limestone and Roman roof tiles, it’s perched on a plateau and completely surrounded by a sea of vineyards – some of which you will visit that afternoon.
Excellent company and communication. They were able to put together trip last minute. Everything on the trip was amazing, hotel, trips, tour guide. It was everything i expected and beyond!
Why book with Jacada
Personalised design
We’ll plan your trip around your personal interests, tastes and preferences, providing honest advice based on first-hand knowledge.
Authentic experiences
Our expert guides and brilliant Concierges are hand-picked for their ability to bring your destination to life with care and passion.
Positive Impact
We seek out unforgettable experiences that benefit both local communities and the environment.
