20% off normal price: Springtime in Burgundy

1 or 2-day exclusive Urban Junkies wine excursions to taste wines in the famous Burgundian villages of Chablis, Meursault, Beaune and Gevrey Chambertin. Visits and tastings organised by Burgundy specialists Wine Liaisons.

Normal cost of wine excursion £150 per person per day *
UJ special offer £120 per person per day *

Day 1
Chablis: 9:30 pick up from your hotel by BM of Wine-Liaisons and head up into the Grand Cru vineyards of Chablis. While admiring the panoramic views over the vines BM gives you a brief history of this ancient wine producing village. From here a short drive to meet one of the wine producing families. A tour of their winery concludes in the cellar with an extensive tasting of these crisp pure white wines. Wines tasted will include Chablis, 1er Cru and Grand Cru. The perfect aperitif before lunch. In the village of Chablis you can choose from one of several cafés and bistrots.

Following lunch BM walks you to the oldest part of the village to visit the 9th Century monastery where the first flagons of chablis were produced. The buildings are now the headquarters of Chablis's most prestigious wine house, Domaine Laroche.

Leaving Chablis we take a scenic route through undulating vineyards to a neighbouring valley and the medieval village of St Bris le Vineux. Welcomed by a well known local family we go underground to visit amazing 11th century cellars, still used for ageing wines. While in the cellar we get the chance to taste a broad selection of great burgundy from the nearby vineyards.

Emmerge later, blinking in the daylight with time to drive (yes drive) underground into the quarry at Bailly to freshen up with a glass of the local champagne, Cremant de bourgogne, aged in these cool dark caverns. About 18:30 BM returns you, tired tasted happy, to your hotel.

Day 2
Earlier departure from Chablis to enable a 10h00 arrival at the prestigious Grand Cru vineyard of Le Montrachet including a pick-up for those staying in Beaune. Following familiarisation with the viticultural geography we visit a well known famiy of vintners in the village of Meursault. A tour of the winery once again concludes in the cellar where we taste wines from several legendry vineyards including the "Goutte D'Or" and "Perriéres".

For lunch we drive into Beaune. The original capital of the Duchy of Burgundy in the middle ages, this beautiful little town has changed little since those times. Lunch can be in one of the many busy cafés on Place Carnot. Time after lunch for a visit of the 15th century Hôtel-Dieu, a gem of medieval architecture, functionnel till the 1970's.

Leaving Beaune we head north, driving past the legendry pinot noir vineyards of the Cote de Nuits including Romanée conti, clos vougeot , clos du Tart and Chambertin.

In the village of Gevrey Chambertin we are given a warm welcome by one of the best wine producing families in the region. Down in their cool vaulted cellars lined with barrels of precious pinot noirs we taste a selection of their delicious reds including 1er cru's and maybe even a rare Grand Cru...

Return drive (snooze) to Chablis with a drop off for those staying in Beaune.

* Cost includes: Pick up and drop off at your hotel and transport for the day in a comfortable air conditionned vehicle. Wine guidance, winery tours and all wine tastings. Lunch not included but allow 15 euros for a classic bistrot lunch. Guests can select either one or both of the day tours.

AVAILABLE DATES for 1 or 2 day tours: Spring/ 2007

Friday 6th April. Chablis
Saturday 7th April Beaune

Friday 13th April. Chablis
Saturday 14th April Beaune

Monday16th April. Chablis
Tuesday17th April Beaune

Friday 18th May. Chablis
Saturday 19th May. Beaune

Friday 25th May Chablis
Saturday 26th May. Beaune.

DIY and flexible wine experiences.
For UJ readers tempted to come to burgundy but unable to get away for the dates above, wine-liaisons.com are happy to either organise rendez-vous with avaliable producers willing to meet them independantly. Or, depending on Brendan's availability, they can tailor make a programme to suit your requirements. Contact them directly for more details.

HOW TO GET TO BURGUNDY

Car: A relaxed uncluttered drive on France's open roads. This method also enables you to fill the boot and take these great wines home with you.

Coming via Dover, try Speedferries for value and a quick crossing to Boulogne. Euro tunnel is another quick route under the channel.

From the French channel ports of Boulogne or Calais the easiest route to Burgundy is via the excellent autoroute A26. It takes you through Champagne (Reims) to Troyes. From here head overland through Tonnerre to Chablis. Should take a maximum of 5 hours.

Air: Regular flights into Paris with rail links from Gare de Lyon to Auxerre. Station pick up can be arranged.