A sensory introduction to Burgundy wine in the cellars of an 18th-century Beaune mansion.
€290for a half-day wine tour starting here, up to 4 guests
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Bouchard Aîné & Fils is a Beaune wine house with roots in the 18th century. Since 1998 it has welcomed visitors to the Parcours des 5 Sens, a guided sensory journey through the cellars of its elegant mansion, the Hôtel du Conseiller du Roy. It suits beginners as well as experienced tasters.
The Parcours des 5 Sens is led by a guide and designed as a playful introduction to wine. You explore the ageing cellars and use all five senses to understand how Burgundy wines are made and how to enjoy them. The story of the Bouchard family runs through the visit, which ends with a tasting. Other visits and workshops are also offered.
In 1731 Michel Bouchard set up a thriving cloth business in Burgundy, then began trading wine on commission. His eldest son, Joseph, took over in 1750 and rooted the family in the Côte d'Or. The name Aîné, meaning elder, marks this as the elder branch of the Bouchard family. The house became a négociant, making, ageing and selling wines, and it was already exporting its wines by 1890.
The house is based in the Hôtel du Conseiller du Roy, built in 1743 for Jacques Philibert Parigot de Santenay, one of the wealthiest men in Beaune and an adviser to King Louis XV. It was the first mansion in Beaune built outside the town walls, and the mansion is named after his office. Its ageing cellars opened to visitors in June 1998.
Guided visits leave at 10:30, 11:30, 14:30, 16:00 and 17:00.
Checked on on the official site.
Allow 45 minutes to an hour. Visits leave at set times and places are limited, so book ahead. The house is on the boulevard Maréchal Foch, just outside the ramparts and a short walk from the Porte Saint-Nicolas.
What to combine with Bouchard Aîné & Fils on the same day, nearest first.
For the visit, allow 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Did you know? Built in 1743 for an adviser to Louis XV, the Hôtel du Conseiller du Roy was the first grand house in Beaune to be built outside the town walls.
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Half-day wine tour from Beaune: €290 for the car, up to 4 guests
