Founded in 1720, Champy calls itself Burgundy's oldest wine house, with old cellars and an 1890 vat house.
€290for a half-day wine tour starting here, up to 4 guests
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Maison Champy was founded in Beaune in 1720 by Claude Champy and presents itself as the oldest wine house in Burgundy. Its headquarters on the rue du Grenier-à-Sel include old cellars and a vat house of 1890, now a listed historic monument. Visits combine the cellars with a tasting of the house's wines.
The classic visit takes you through the house's cellars, which Champy dates to the 15th century, and ends with a tasting of five or six wines. Longer private visits cover the whole cellar network and the finest wines, and the house also offers food and wine experiences. Its tasting shop on the place de la Halle, facing the Hospices, serves wines by the glass.
Claude Champy founded the house in 1720. According to the national heritage record, it was one of the first merchant houses to ship Burgundy wines abroad as well as around France. The family built up vineyards around Beaune, and by the late 19th century the house says it was among the leading exporters of wine to New York. It has been part of the AdVini group since 2010.
In 1890 the house built a large vat house and wine stores above its cellars. The vat house now shows old winemaking equipment, including a pasteuriser once used to kill germs in grape must and devices for concentrating wine by cold. These buildings were listed as a historic monument in 2010. Champy owns about 21 hectares of vines, a large part of them farmed organically.
These are the hours of the shop on the place de la Halle; cellar visits with a tasting (€30, about 1 hour 30 minutes) are booked online.
Checked on on the official site.
Allow about an hour and a half for the cellar visit and tasting. Visits are by reservation and in small groups. The house is a short walk east of the Hôtel-Dieu, and its shop on the place de la Halle is a handy stop on market day.
What to combine with Maison Champy on the same day, nearest first.
For the visit, allow about 1.5 hours.
Did you know? Champy's vat house of 1890, listed as a historic monument in 2010, still displays old equipment such as a pasteuriser once used to kill germs in grape must.
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Half-day wine tour from Beaune: €290 for the car, up to 4 guests
