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Route des Grands Crus, Burgundy, France | |
| Drive through some of the world's most famous vineyards! | ||
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The Route des Grands Crus is a short route of about 60 kilometers (37 miles). But it's on tiny, picturesque roads through vineyards and small wine villages, and it's meant to be traveled slowly. If you want to see the "big names" in Burgundy wine and have a delightful excursion, travel the Route des Grands Crus. It starts just south of Dijon and runs through Beaune to Santenay (map). The first town south of Dijon is Marsannay-la-Côte. With a population of just over 5,000, it's actually one of the larger places you'll pass through. You'll be following the Côte d'Or escarpment, the area where most of the most famous Burgundy grapes are grown. The part north of Beaune is referred to as the Côte de Nuits, while the southern part is the Côte de Beaune. Stop in the tiny flower-decked village of Gevrey-Chambertin and try to figure out how such a tiny town supports so many grands crus wines. More... Continue south and you'll soon come to the Clos de Vougeot, a lovely wine château turned museum. Stop here and enjoy a tour, learning about the Clos, wine, and the Confrérie des Chevaliers de Tastevin. More... In just a few more kilometers you'll reach the charming town of Nuits-St-Georges, well known for its wines. Its town center is a great place for lunch or a coffee. More... Beaune is your next stop, and it has plenty of things to see in addition to wine. You may want to spend some time exploring Beaune. More... You'll then begin exploring the Côte de Beaune, and moving eventually into more white wine territory. You'll pass through some towns with impressive châteaux, such as Pommard, Meursault, and Chassagne-Montrachet. Although the Route des Grands Crus technically ends at Santenay, you may want to continue your wandering into the Mâconnais and Cluny area. Traveling the Route des Grands Crus gives you a wonderful picture of the terroir, or land where grapes are grown, as well as glimpses into the lifestyles of the small villages, where life has focused on wine for centuries.
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Above, Look for brown and white slgns all along the route.
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