My wife and I will be going to Germany in May to visit our daughter, and she is proposing a drive over to Burgundy, specifically Beaune. I know very little about setting up visits to wineries in Burgundy, except that it is not as easy as many other places. Any recommendations for a day or two visit? TIA.
I am posting to bump this because I would love to see some responses. My wife and I basically failed a few years ago in Burgundy. If/when I am able to go back, I would really appreciate knowing how others have managed. Thank you for the question.
Do you buy from any retailers that handle a lot of Burgs? If so, that’s often the best way to go - i.e., get their help with a visit or two. You might also try writing to the better negociants - Jadot, Faiveley, Bouchard, e.g., about visiting. If there is one or more Burg producers whose wines you love, find their website and email contact and write them directly and tell them you love their wines and would love to visit. Unfortunately, the last three years’ crops have been so short that many producers have closed the doors if you aren’t in the trade as they just don’t have enough juice to sample through. So visits to really small producers will be very difficult and you might try reaching out to producers with larger holdings.
That’s my suggestion.
I visited Jadot and Drouhin in 2011. Drouhin’s cellar alone was worth the trip. I just e-mailed them in advance and set up a tasting appointment. No, it’s not like Napa, where you can just drop in. It does help to tell them that you have previous experience with their wines.
Try Chandon de Briailles and Rossignol-Trapet. They seem to take visitors when they can.
Here’s one thread with lots of recommendations. If you search through the Travel Forum, you’ll find more.
Getting in to many of the smaller producers takes effort and patience. If there are particular producers whose wines you enjoy, try those first through email. Grovelling goes a long way 
Good advice to try a prominent retailer who does a lot of Burgundy business, they may be willing/able to help you. Bouchard does tours and tastings at their headquarters in Beaune (and it is a pretty cool tour). They only take a very few people each day at a fixed time, so go to their web site and sign up or email as soon as you know your dates. Drouhin has a new tasting room and tour center in the center of Beaune, that’s another one you can easily make arrangements for (though they charge for the tour, and maybe tasting as well).
Alex Gambal, being American, is a great visit for English speakers.
In Beaune no less!
Thank you for the suggestions and the links. I will start to dig a little and see what I can come up with.
Try wineries where you have liked the wines in the past. When you e-mail wineries, try to show them you have enjoyed their wines in the past or have some other connection to the winery. It helps a lot.
Some help:
Vins de Bourgogne, nés d’une terre viticole d’exception - Vins de Bourgogne?
http://www.burgundy-report.com/discover-burgundy/19-producer-links/
Depending on when in May you are in town you are more than welcome to stop by (in the walls of Beaune, no less).
If you don’t have retailer contacts, your bed and breakfast or hotel can be a great source. They won’t be able to get Rousseau or DRC but they can really do a good job. L’Hotel in Beaune is especially good here.
Andrew,
We will be in Beaune from May 16 to May 18 or 19. Are you around then?
Hi Kemp, Colleen and I love having visitors, especially Berserkers! Feel free to come chat and taste some wines with us.
18th is Sunday so you won’t get any appointments then and you won’t get much on Saturday either. Unfortunately, most places only take appointments during the week. You will get to see one of the best markets in Beaune on Saturday morning though. Also let me know if you decide to stick around on the 19th. I haven’t made any appointments yet but happy to have you along for whatever I get.
I can do morning of the 16th as I need to be back in London that evening. Email me at andrew at legrappin dot com.
I second Paul’s recommendation of checking out the Beaune market on Saturday. My good friend and chef de cave at Chandon de Briailles, Christian Knott, has a fantastic organic coffee stand there so you can finally get a decent cup of coffee in Burgundy, even if it is just for a couple of hours on Saturday.