Have been reading many of the posts on trips to Burgundy/and the many many great recommendations on food places and sights.
My partner and I will be visiting for the first time in October and will be in staying in Beaune.
One question we have is about travelling between villages, especially since we don’t plan on driving ourselves (since we will be drinking). How easy is it to commute between the villages? For example if we were to travel to Gevrey for lunch, and subsequently wish to travel down to Chambolle for a tasting/dinner
Are the buses/trains reliable? Or are taxis available?
Uber is now an option in Burgundy as of six months ago (to the delight of the locals), though it remains unreliable. Taxis can are even more unreliable (I’ve had some adventures), especially during busier times, and you’ll need hotels/restaurants to call them - sometimes they’re just not available if you’re not in Beaune (40 minute to one hour wait if at all); also not cheap. I’ve never seen a bus on the road in Burgundy (they would be noticeable, but happy to be corrected) and trains would only work to the extent you’re going from NSG to Beaune (and then it’s a 12ish minute walk to the center of town).
You can hire a driver, though I prefer to drive myself and be a bit careful with the alcohol at lunch. Producers in Burgundy tend to be pretty understanding about arriving late to appointments/visits (with some notable exceptions!), but if a taxi isn’t available for 40 minutes after a lunch, you may miss an appointment entirely.
I have generally driven and spit wine when tasting. I stay in Beaune and eat dinner in Beaune so I can drink wine with dinner. If you don’t want to have a car, I recommend hiring a guide.
