Visiting Burgundy: Advice Sought

WINE TALK
1

My brother and I are going to be visiting Burgundy during a trip to Europe in September/October. We plan to stay for approximately 3 days and I would like to visit some domaines if possible. I have never been to the area and wanted to get some help or advice on scheduling appointments.

As of now we are going to be staying in Dijon so I would like to concentrate on the Cote de Nuits. I am not really sure how many visits are possible per day but I was thinking around 2 or 3. I put together a rough list of domaines I am interested in and would like to visit (whether they are possible or not is one reason I am posting), namely: Roumier, Barthod, Bachelet, Rousseau, Grivot, and Clavelier, others such as Dujac, Fourrier, and Mugnier are also very intriguing. I am extremely limited with the French language and imagine this could be a problem at some estates.

Our tentative schedule puts us in Dijon on September 16th, leaving on the 19th. I realize this could be close to harvest time and that is another concern I wanted to inquire about. I have found contact information for some domaines but thought I would find out if there is a preferred method for setting up appointments before jumping in.

I am only a year or two into exploring Burgundy and thus really looking forward to getting some personal impressions of the vineyards and people behind the wines. Any advice, contacts, or even general info about visiting Burgundy would be greatly appreciated.

2

I’ll try to tackle some of your points:

  • to make appointments I usually pick up my phone and try my luck, but obviously at some domaines it’s going to be hard if you don’t have the proper introductions. I’m also not sure if producers like to make appointments directly with foreigners (because of the issue of importers and so on I think), from what I’ve heard a lot of people seem to be arranging appointments through importers?
  • September is a tough month for appointments, that will probably be next to impossible at any place where they don’t have sales staff, which is to say, pretty much everywhere except some négociants.
  • I’ve tasted at 5 of the domaines you mention but sometimes only once. Every domaine is possible if you have the proper introductions and/or pull the right chains, etc - but the domaines you have listed are definitely not of the “walk-in” types. Despite being reasonably well-connected in Burgundy a tasting at Dujac or DRC would still be some kind of lifetime achievement :wink: