RICHES OF BURGUNDY

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You are a gourmet amateur and you like to cook… ready to share the secrets of the Burgundy cuisine with a French chef. You also like the wines, and you are interested in improving your knowledge in the Burgundy wines with an expert. As you are a gourmet, you have probably already tasted the “Cîteaux”, the flavoured cheese made by the monks in the abbaye of the same name. You also certainly heard about Dijon, the ancient capital of the Dukes at the 15th century, and Beaune too, the capital of the Burgundy wines with its exceptional buildings and monuments... In Burgundy, each city, each place is entirely linked to the history of France and takes part to this country incredible heritage.

For more information about the history of Burgundy, please visit France Monthly

In small groups, you will discover the best spots in the heart of Burgundy, exploring a territory called “La Côte d’Or” (the Golden Ridge) with its wine capital : Beaune, and its historical capital : Dijon. You will also experience the regional cuisine and indulge in the finest wines with the tastings of the Grands Crus such as Montrachet, Pommard, Meursault, Nuits Saint Georges, Corton Charlemagne, Chambolle Musigny, etc.

THE RICHES OF BURGUNDYTM is a one-of-a-kind program dedicated to the gourmet amateurs and the arts lovers. It has been designed by Corinne Preteur and is exclusive to Lifestyle Vacations. The program features luxury accommodation in a private 17th century house nearby Beaune, hands-on cooking classes, wines conference and tastings, excursions, private guided tours of Dijon and Beaune, gourmet lunch and food & wine harmony dinner at two Michelin starred restaurants.
All tours are escorted by Corinne Preteur personally. Absolutely unique!

YOUR LOCATION : Le Clos, a seventeen-century typical Burgundy house nestled in the vineyard nearby Beaune

If we truly like Dijon for its architecture and cultural aspects, we have a little preference for Beaune. This picturesque city of only 22.000 inhabitants, capital of the Burgundy wines, is a treasure for gourmet lovers, featuring a high quality cuisine to be experienced in Michelin-starred restaurant or typical auberges. Walking in Beaune is a pleasure to admire the Renaissance buildings and monuments, and to make some shopping too! Within five minutes by car, we arrive in a peaceful and natural environment dominated by hilltops covered with vineyards.

Besides the four-star hotels you find in downtown Beaune or Dijon, we discover real hidden treasures : private houses entirely renovated and transformed into luxury B&B of four or five rooms each, with a garden or park, and a pool. That’s the case of Le Clos, a seventeen-century typical Burgundy house decorated with a great taste. The rooms and suites have their independent entrance. All are luxuriously furnished with stylish antiques, modern comforts and amenities including a private bathroom. This amazing house is nestled in a 2 acres private park surrounded by the vineyard, owned by Bruno and Fabienne. Both have a strong expertise of hotels management at the international, home-decoration and cuisine.

The cooking classes at Le Clos with Chef Fabienne

Fabienne is a very talented chef, and run the cooking classes at the property. She is an autodidact, learning the French cuisine with her father since her young age. The Burgundy cuisine has no secrets for her anymore and her greatest pleasure is now to share her passion for the food and wine with gourmet amateurs she welcomes in her beautiful property. You will appreciate her delicious home-made pastries and cakes, as well as fruits jelly and jam served at the breakfast, as well as her fine home-made cuisine which uses the organic products from her garden and the open-air market.

The classes are scheduled in the morning, beginning at 9:30am for three hours, the right time to cook a three-course meal including a starter, a main course and a dessert. The Burgundy traditional cuisine generally uses wine (beef Burgundy, eggs in Meurette, game, jellied ham with parsley, etc) but the new “trendy” Burgundy cuisine is lighter, flavoured and more refined. As described in the itinerary, the participants will taste the fruits of their labor after the class at the lunch, or later in the evening at the dinner. The recipes that will be experienced along the classes are easy to make and use the products from the garden or the market depending on the seasons.

Wine conference and Tastings with a wine expert who will also guide two excursions in the vineyards of Côtes de Nuits & Côtes de Beaune

Burgundy is wellknown for the high quality of its wines, and especially its grands crus worldwide. Besides the cultural visits and cookery classes, you indulge in the secret world of the wine makers and experts. Your gourmet adventure includes two excursions in the vineyards of Côtes de Nuits and Côtes de Beaune, as well as a conference followed by a 6-wine tasting in Beaune (intimate school) with our wine expert to improve your understanding in the Burgundy wines : history, vineyards,
soils, characteristics & classification, grape varieties, appellations, vintages, wine tasting techniques, food & wine pairing...

A unique experience of the Burgundy Michelin “rising-star” restaurants…

Burgundy gained an international recognition thanks to its wines and its gastronomy. Three-star chefs like Bernard Loiseau (Saulieu), Marc Meneau (Saint Père) or Jean-Michel Lorrain (Joigny) have highly contributed to make the Burgundy finest cuisine absolutely unique. But besides these “summits of perfection”, you also find talented rising star chef, already awarded one-star by the Michelin guide and on the “good” way to get a higher distinction. This is the case of David Zuddas at l’Auberge de la Charme nearby Dijon, and Loiseau des Vignes in Beaune. You will experience those two restaurants, one at the lunch and the other at a unique food & wine pairing dinner.

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Detailled Itinerary

> DAY 1 (Monday) : Arrival to Burgundy
Pick-up at Dijon TGV station and private transfer by minibus to Le Clos nearby Beaune (about 45 mn drive). Check-in at the property. You will have time to relax before having a welcome aperitif in the living room or in the garden if the weather allows, and review the weekly program all together.
Welcome dinner and overnight at the property.

> DAY 2 (Tuesday) : Cooking Class 1, Private Guided Tour of Beaune,
Wine conference & Tasting at the Beaune Wine School
After your breakfast, at 9:30am you will join Chef Fabienne for a first hands-on class at the property. You will learn how to prepare a three-course meal that you will taste later for the dinner (the wine is always included in the tasting lunches or dinners at the property). At 12:30pm, lunch at a typical Burgundy auberge (wines are not included) nearby Beaune. At 3:00pm is the meeting with your English-speaking guide for a private cultural tour of Beaune. After your visit you will attend to a wine conference and participate to a 6-wine tasting at the Beaune wine school under Damien’s direction. Back to the property around 7:00pm, you will relax before enjoying your tasting dinner. Overnight at Le Clos.

> DAY 3 (Wednesday) : Market Visit with the Chef, Cooking Class 2,
Excursion to the Côtes de Beaune Vineyard
After the breakfast, morning visit of the Beaune open-air market with chef Fabienne. It’s the time to choose, select and buy the ingredients that you will cook afterwards.
Back to the property around 10:00am, you will participate to your second hands-on class. Lunch follows and everyone eats together the dishes prepared in class. Wine and dessert included. Afternoon excursion on the “Route des Vins” : from Bligny les Beaune to Santenay, by Meursault, Volnay, Puligny and Chassagne Montrachet. Our wine expert will guide the group all along the excursion.
Back to the property around 6:00pm, you will have two hours for relaxing before going to Levernois (5 km from the property) to enjoy a dinner at the restaurant (regional specialities and grill). Transfer back to the property. Overnight at Le Clos.

> DAY 4 (Thursday) : Full-day Côte d’Or Excursion including a Gourmet Lunch
at a Michelin-starred restaurant nearby Dijon
This fourth day is dedicated to a full-day excursion in the Cote d’Or territory. After your early breakfast, we will go to Dijon, capitale of the Dukes of Burgundy. We will meet with your private English-speaking guide for a 2 hour cultural sightseeing of Dijon to enjoy its exceptional heritage thanks to its royal history. Along your walking visit, you will stop at Mulot & Petitjean… push the door of this shop for a spice bread tasting (the spice bread is a speciality of Dijon, after the mustard and the blackcurrent brandy) and Mulot’s one is really delicious!
Your lunch will be one of the greatest moment of your gourmet adventure as you will taste the great cuisine of David Zuddas. L’Auberge de la Charme nearby Dijon in a lovely countryside village.
The afternoon is dedicated to the exploration of the Côtes de Nuits vineyard including the visit of the famous Clos de Vougeot, Chambolle Musigny, Nuits Saint Georges and Vosne Romanée to the picturesque villages of Pernand Vergelesses and Aloxe Corton. We will probably extend our excursion to the Cîteaux Abbaye where the monks community make a unique cheese.
The excursion will ends around 7:00pm. Back to the property (we can ask Fabienne to cook something light for the dinner). Overnight at Le Clos.

> DAY 5 (Friday) : Cooking Class 3, Traditional Mustard factory visit,
Afternoon free (for shopping or relaxing),
Food & Wine Pairing Dinner at Loiseau des Vignes
This fourth day is dedicated to a full-day excursion in the Cote d’Or territory. After your early breakfast, we will go to Dijon, capitale of the Dukes of Burgundy. We will meet with your private English-speaking guide for a 2 hour cultural sightseeing of Dijon to enjoy its exceptional heritage thanks to its royal history. Along your walking visit, you will stop at Mulot & Petitjean… push the door of this shop for a spice bread tasting (the spice bread is a speciality of Dijon, after the mustard and the blackcurrent brandy) and Mulot’s one is really delicious!
Your lunch will be one of the greatest moment of your gourmet adventure as you will taste the great cuisine of David Zuddas. L’Auberge de la Charme in a lovely countryside village nearby Dijon.
The afternoon is dedicated to the exploration of the Côtes de Nuits vineyard including the visit of the famous Clos de Vougeot, Chambolle Musigny, Nuits Saint Georges and Vosne Romanée to the picturesque villages of Pernand Vergelesses and Aloxe Corton. We will probably extend our excursion to the Cîteaux Abbaye where the monks community makes a unique cheese.
The excursion will ends around 7:00pm. Back to the property (we can ask Fabienne to cook something light for the dinner). Overnight at Le Clos.

> DAY 6 (Saturday)
Check-out after your breakfast and transfer to Dijon.

OUR PRICES PER PERSON (double occupancy)

$ 2,620.00
Single supplement : $ 450.00
Please note that prices are subject to change based on exchange rates.
Call for updated rates.

THESE PRICES INCLUDE:
• 5 nights accomodation at Le Clos, a luxury private property (double occupancy).
• 5 home-made breakfasts.
• Three hands-on cooking classes, with lunch or dinner following. Wine included.
• Welcome aperitif on arrival.
• Welcome dinner at Le Clos on Monday. Wine included.
• The lunch on Tuesday. Wine is not included.
• The dinner at the typical auberge in Levernois on Wednesday. Wine is not included.
• The gourmet lunch on Tuesday at l’Auberge de la Charme. Wine is not included.
• The food & wine pairing dinner at Loiseau des Vignes on Friday.
• The visit of the Fallot mustard factory on Friday afternoon.
• The Beaune market visit with chef Fabienne on Wednesday.
• The conference and 6-wine Tasting at the Beaune Wine School with our wine expert.
• Two guided excursions to the vineyards of Côtes de Beaune (Tuesday) and Côtes de Nuits (Thursday) with our wine expert.
• The private guided tour of Beaune with a professional English-speaking guide on Tuesday.
• The private guided tour of Dijon with a professional English-speaking guide on Thursday.
• The private round-trip transfer by air-conditioned minibus from Dijon TGV station to the property.
• All ground transportation.
• The five-day private escort by Corinne Preteur, owner and director of Lifestyle Vacations.

THE PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE :
airfare to/from the USA, TGV express train tickets, the drinks at the restaurants except at Loiseau in Beaune, personal expenses and personal insurance.

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2010 TOUR DATES

April 18-24
May 17-22
June 28 – July 3
August 23-28
September 20-25
October 4-9

A minimum of 6 participants is required for each session
Tours are limited to 8 persons

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