Itinerary - Burgundy Express: the wine route of Grands Crus

Our journey begins from Lyon , a historic city full of art and beauty to discover.

For this first evening together we will make a first visit to the Vieux Lyon district: walking through its Renaissance streets, such as the Rue du Beauf , we will have a first contact with what awaits us in the coming days.

Our day starts early, finally our on the road for the Vie des Cru starts: can't you wait to taste this delicious wine ? Little patience and we arrive in Beaune, the favorite residence of the Dukes of Burgundy , at the time among the most powerful princes in Europe. For this reason it boasts a rich monumental heritage, with a well-preserved historic center in which stands out the Hôtel-Dieu, a sumptuous hospital for the poor founded in the fifteenth century and remained mostly intact.

For our blind activity, we will play with taste and smell ; between modern and vintage wines we will taste between 6 and 8 wines from 5 to 50 years old and look for the various differences between them. Ready to play?

After a first “taste” of this region full of secrets, it is time to move on to one of the joys of this trip: tasting! Thanks to the visit to Château Philippe le Hardi , we will learn about the characteristics of the territory and the production processes that lead to the creation of these formidable wines. To complete this part of the day, we will go and taste some of the labels produced by the Château.

A 360° food and wine day? Well yes, after so much wine a nice lunch in a typical restaurant of the area doesn't hurt at all: snails bourguignon?

With a full stomach and a clear mind, we set off towards the “owl”, Dijon . The symbol of the city is precisely the owl: tradition tells of how this figure grants wishes by rubbing its left hand on the bas-relief found on the Church of Notre-Dame . We, as good travellers, will follow this lucky tradition and continue our visit of the city with many other little owls nestled along the city’s paths!

This morning the alarm will be very sweet: a freshly baked croissant and... no coffee, but more wine! Yes, you understood very well, the good morning will be given to us by the Clos de Vougeot , one of the most prestigious wineries in France and beyond. Here the climats are still protected by medieval stone walls that determine the area of a particular wine . The vineyards surround the Renaissance castle in a truly enchanting setting: what do you say, a good awakening?

Back in Lyon we have a wide choice of things to do: a bit of culture doesn't scare us, we set off for Place des Terreaux , the heart of the historic center. From here, a long walk through the streets of the city admiring the elegant buildings, takes us to Place Bellecour , the largest pedestrian square in Europe!

Alternatively, take the cable car to the top of Fourvière hill , until you reach the wonderful and iconic Notre-Dame de Fourvière ; going back down towards Vieux Lyon , we will once again walk along Rue du Boeuf, full of artisan shops and ateliers, where you can admire the real local artists at work.

We have some surprises in store for dinner: Lyon is cited as the food and wine capital of France and as good and proud Italians we take up the challenge!

It's time to say goodbye. A short but decidedly intense adventure, a bit like the grapes tasted in the cellars of this trip. See you soon!