Burgundy Tour Guide

WINE TALK
1

I have a friend and his SO who asked me about a tour guide (English-speaking) while in Burgundy in September. I told him it’d be difficult to get appointments and he knows little about Burgundy wines or the domaine system there–but wants to go. Anybody know a tour guide who may have the connections to escort these two–they love wine and want to learn more about it while in France?

alan

2

I would ask Ray Walker for recommendiations. You can PM him here on the board.

3

There are two who are excellent.
They do group and individuals.

  1. Kim Gagne Journeys in Wine
    Journeys In Wine" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

  2. Diana Williams (Mrs Alex Gambal) - Hidden France
    http://www.thehiddenfrance.com/custom_vacations_wine_regions_france/hidden-france.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There are phone numbers on these two web pages.
These are the two most connected and delightful guides I know.

Michael Bowden is working the harvest and crush for Alex so he might have other suggestions.

4

Colette Barbier is quite excellent - http://www.burgundy-guide.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

She has great contacts, she is great with novices, and best of all, she can drive groups around in a mini-van! If your friend is keen, he can drop her a note saying that Paul Seah from Singapore recommended her. It would probably be better to give her a list of 10-15 Domaines that he would like to visit in order of preference and she will make the arrangements.

5

Celine Viany http://www.levinalabouche.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Celine is really out of Avignon. She took us around Bandol for a day last summer and was really great. She told us during the tour that she also has very good contacts in Burgundy and takes people on tours there as well.

6

great suggestions! Thanks to all.
alan

7

Alan,

I also note that three years ago I was able to make appointments to the following wineries myself by calling the wineries from the US.

Clos des Lambrays
Jadot
Bouchard
Chandon des Briailles

The other wineries we visited we had some kind of way to get in, although at Mugneret-Gibourg it was just that I met Marie Christianne Mugneret at the Paulee, asked her if we could visit and mentioned that fact a few months later when we called.

8

I’m going with Kim Gagne in late October. This will be my first trip with her, but she has excellent contacts. September might be a bit precarious however, due to harvest.

[quote=“dcornutt”]There are two who are excellent.
They do group and individuals.

  1. Kim Gagne Journeys in Wine
    Journeys In Wine" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

  2. Diana Williams (Mrs Alex Gambal) - Hidden France
    http://www.thehiddenfrance.com/custom_vacations_wine_regions_france/hidden-france.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There are phone numbers on these two web pages.
These are the two most connected and delightful guides I know.

Michael Bowden is working the harvest and crush for Alex so he might have ot

9

I was going to tell you to PM Don, but he got here already. He speaks the world of Kim and I’m thinking of utilizing her services myself when I visit hopefully next May.

10

Good point, this will be very tricky indeed in September and I would warn him for this. I’m sure a decent guide will find a workaround however.

11

If only the stars, timing and finances could align…[cry.gif].

That trip will be amazing. IPNC = just a warm-up. Don’t stop your training [training.gif].

RT

12

I’ll do my best, Richard [thankyou.gif]