Day 1

Depart USA for Paris

Day 2

Three nights at Relais Hotel du Vieux Paris, just across the Seine River from Notre Dame.

Day 3

Depart from the Relais Hotel du Vieux Paris for Paris Montparnasse (train station) for your 1.5 hour train ride to the Loire Valley town of Amboise. Enjoy a wine tasting and lunch at Chateau de Montdomaine, the home of my friends and winemakers, Fred and Louisa Plou. Follow Louisa on Facebook or Instagram – she’s an artist, too, and has a separate page to display her beautiful work.

After lunch, drive on to our private villa in Mailly-le-Chateau (between Vezelay and Chablis in Burgundy). The village is centered around the nearby Chateau de Mailly.

Hire Chef Ollie Timberlake or Chef Katherine Frelon to prepare a simple supper at the Chateau to enjoy this evening as you get settled in our castle accommodations.

Day 4

Drive into Chablis, where we’ll stroll at the morning cheese and produce market before a relaxing wine (or beer!) lunch at Le Bistrot des Grands Crus or the casual bar, La Chablisienne.

After lunch, drive into Auxerre to pop into the beautiful cathedral, or return to the Chateau and enjoy canoeing, bird walks, reading by the pool, or whatever you’d like to do with your afternoon in our gorgeous surroundings.

Brendan Moore, an Englishman with strong ties to the area’s wine-producing community during his 30+ years living in France, can be contacted to join you at your chateau or villa to provide a primer on Burgundian wines and guide you through a tasting.

Shop at the Chablis market on Sunday morning for simple dinner provisions – meats, cheeses, terrines – and of course, local wines!

Day 5

Head out for the Loire Valley this morning for a wine tasting at Domaine Raimbault and a pizza lunch at Sacripanti with friends and winemakers, Lynne & Philippe Raimbault in Sancerre. 

After lunch, stroll the winding streets of the hilltop village of Sancerre for some shopping and breathtaking views. Depending on timing and how everyone is feeling, squeeze in another quick wine tasting in nearby Pouilly-Fumé.

Day 6

Enjoy some culture and history today and visit Vezelay, a hilltop village with a working monastery. Explore and shop in the village before heading inside the cathedral to hear the hauntingly beautiful sounds of the nuns and monks singing during noon mass. 

Enjoy lunch at Sy La Terrasse, just across from the monastery.

Consider a French cooking class where you can dine on your creations! Coordinate with the lovely Ollie Timberlake to come to your villa or Chateau. Want to start drooling about this now? Follow Ollie on Instagram @andsomuchmore.

Day 7

Hire Brendan again today to introduce you to some of his personal friends and wine producers in his home region of Chablis. Experience a morning wine tasting at Domaine Daniel Seguinot et Filles in the village of Maligny, then a café lunch of Croques Monsieurs and salads at the local Chablisienne bar.

After lunch, taste with the charming Claude at Domaine Chevalier, ending the day with a glass of bubbly at Les Caves Bailly Lapierre.

Day 8

Brendan drives you to Puligny Montrachet to enjoy a wine tasting with the always-enchanting wine producer Philippe Chavy before a traditional lunch of French cuisine (try the local Boeuf Bourguignon!) in the village at L’Estaminet des Meix. Visit and wine tasting with the lovely Jafflin family in the afternoon.

After lunch, visit the city center of Beaune and explore the Hospices de Beaune, do some shopping, or enjoy a glass of wine or a cup of coffee at a café in the town square.

Day 9

Time to head towards the airport – I like to stay overnight at the Novotel CDG so I am in position for my flight the next morning. But you can easily stay in central Paris if that suits!