Delights of Champagne and Burgundy, France

Elisabeth Grieder sees Paris as a logical start or end point to the delights of Champagne and Burgundy.

About a one hour drive from Paris, Champagne is a wine district with well-signposted roads that encourage a decelerated approach through tidy vineyards, grand cru estates and ancient villages.

Champagne’s capital is Reims, a fairly non-descript city but below its streets is a honeycomb of champagne cellars. One of France’s finest champagne and foie gras restaurants is in the heart of the town, a picture-perfect chateau of 20 lavish rooms. Its particular appeal is its Michelin starred restaurant. Exquisite flavour grabs your attention in a dining room that is a masterpiece of cherubs and gilt. The cuisine is almost surreally simple. In the summer you can dine in the chateau’s garden and travellers from the Antipodes will love its unpretentious atmosphere.

Exploring the wine roads of Burgundy is like travelling through a wine list, because this region supports half the famous names in French wine and it truly is a wine-lover’s heaven. Close to Beaune, in the heart of the vineyards, is an ancient farmhouse, now a renowned inn. It is an ideal base for exploring Burgundy and for meals and extensive wine lists that will impress. Many who travel to France make a pilgrimage to this establishment such is its culinary standing in France.

Contact Elisabeth on (02) 8270 4800 or egrieder@conciergetraveller.com.au for routes and accommodation packages in both of these decadent destinations.

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