France - Wine Regions

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JohnM said:
If you look at a map, Epernay is E of Paris with Beaune S of that (with Chablis and Vezelay between). Sancerre is is S of Paris and W of Beaune. So, depending on how much time you have, there is quite a good loop that could be done in either direction. I don't know about the train as I always prefer to rent a car for independence and flexibility. I think you really need a car within a region such as Burgundy to get out and roam through the villages and vines. Chablis is also quite a nice small town.

If you are flying into or out of CDG, it is to the E of Paris and only about a 1.5h straightforward drive to/from Epernay.

I think you mentioned being there in September. If that's so, harvest will be under way so there will quite a bit of activity in the wine regions.

How long are you allowing for the trip?
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Probably about 10 days on the ground (but will need at least 2 in Paris for work).. less than 2 weeks all together including flying..
I'm sure Mr Up will be happy to drive.. I agree the flexibility is a good idea :)
Maybe you need to come along to the strategyisationment!! :)
 
Starting to make me jealous and reminisce:) I suggest you'll need at least 3 days in Beaune (nice lux hotels: we stayed in Hôtel Le Cep but there are many) to look around Burgundy and follow the D974 through Nuits-Saint-George and the NNE wine routes and back through the hills. (There are several good wine tours which I recommend you do one from Beaune then Google the wine routes and take the car to a selection of wineries etc to the NNE.) Bouchard Père et Fils and a number of others put on good tours which the tourist bureau or hotel in Beaune can organise for you.
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As a result of the Preliminary Strategisationment on Wednesday, Cruiser and I determined that we have very similar ideas for a French wine tour so we are hoping to combine the wealth of AFF knowledge and then of course I'll send Cruiser to test it first and then take all the best bits :) :). Thank you to JohnM and TheRealTMA for the great suggestions but we were thinking that we would prefer to be drinking rather than driving so perhaps training it to Epernay from Paris... Does anyone know if its possible to then train down to Burgundy or do you have to go back to Paris? Maybe driving between the major centres and then taking a tour when we get there??

I had a quick google and found the Burgundy Discovery tour.. looks pretty good (small numbers, good wineries, that picks up from the train station or motels in Beaune).. has anyone done it or any other tours that you could recommend? Trip Adviser liked it also..

I understand that you are all very busy (especially during your retirement JohnM :p) but any help you can give us would be greatly appreciated!
 
JohnM said:
If it's September, I'll be in the US (Minnesota lakes area and SW deserts in AZ), followed by Colombia, the Baltic States and Namibia, through to late October :cool: - otherwise, no probs :p.
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Got itchy feet JohnM?? lol..
 
UpInTheAir:) said:
As a result of the Preliminary Strategisationment on Wednesday, Cruiser and I determined that we have very similar ideas for a French wine tour so we are hoping to combine the wealth of AFF knowledge and then of course I'll send Cruiser to test it first and then take all the best bits :):). Thank you to JohnM and TheRealTMA for the great suggestions but we were thinking that we would prefer to be drinking rather than driving so perhaps training it to Epernay from Paris... Does anyone know if its possible to then train down to Burgundy or do you have to go back to Paris? Maybe driving between the major centres and then taking a tour when we get there??

I had a quick google and found the Burgundy Discovery tour.. looks pretty good (small numbers, good wineries, that picks up from the train station or motels in Beaune).. has anyone done it or any other tours that you could recommend? Trip Adviser liked it also..

I understand that you are all very busy (especially during your retirement JohnM :p) but any help you can give us would be greatly appreciated!
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You can train from Reims to Beaune in a little over 4 hours with at least 1 connection

The man in seat 61 is very helpful

http://www.raileurope-world.com/spip.php?page=sales&re_domain=ptp&re_oper=results&cmpid=AF020811
 
UpInTheAir:) said:
As a result of the Preliminary Strategisationment on Wednesday, Cruiser and I determined that we have very similar ideas for a French wine tour so we are hoping to combine the wealth of AFF knowledge and then of course I'll send Cruiser to test it first and then take all the best bits :):). Thank you to JohnM and TheRealTMA for the great suggestions but we were thinking that we would prefer to be drinking rather than driving so perhaps training it to Epernay from Paris... Does anyone know if its possible to then train down to Burgundy or do you have to go back to Paris? Maybe driving between the major centres and then taking a tour when we get there??

I had a quick google and found the Burgundy Discovery tour.. looks pretty good (small numbers, good wineries, that picks up from the train station or motels in Beaune).. has anyone done it or any other tours that you could recommend? Trip Adviser liked it also..

I understand that you are all very busy (especially during your retirement JohnM :p) but any help you can give us would be greatly appreciated!
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Recommend here for degustation dinner: bienvenue - Le Jardin des Remparts. By September the terrace will be closed, unfortunately, as it's divine sitting outside in mid-summer. But it will still be good.

A very famous restaurant in Beaune is Ma Cuisine, a small bistro down a little street just off the central square. Doesn't have its own web site but: https://plus.google.com/106549829159949832090/about?gl=au&hl=en
 
UpInTheAir:) said:
As a result of the Preliminary Strategisationment on Wednesday, Cruiser and I determined that we have very similar ideas for a French wine tour so we are hoping to combine the wealth of AFF knowledge
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And extremely very deep and meaningful Preliminary Strategisationment it was to - so time to get to work.

Accomodation: I want to firstly start with accommodation in particular Hotel V Apartment. I am traditionally 100% hotel type - Cruiserette pretty similar - but more than happy to go down the Apartment path if deemed suitable.

My major concern with Hotel V Apartment is security of luggage and possessions. Hotels provide several layers of protection - ie people with ill intent need to get past hotel employees and then need to access rooms where in most cases electronic access cards are useless post check out. Can you good people who have traversed the French wine regions offer advice as to whether apartments offer any level of such security? Cruiserette will be travelling and working and her laptop is her mobile office - without it she is screwed - mine nowhere near this level but I too will be doing some degree of work each day and need laptop also.

Am I being paranoid here? I am not at all concerned about monetary value and I am not the type to lock my toiletries in a hotel safe each day - but we do want the peace of mind knowing that ticket wallets containing passports etc are safely locked away in a safe daily and that our laptops will still be in the room when returning after a day out visiting wineries or other touristy things.

One other major consideration is a pool - we are travelling June 16 to July 5 - summer - and ideally want pool access daily if we so desire to take a dip / relax and sip a drink. Hotels tick this box but apartments unlikely to do so - would appreciate input please good AFFers.
 
Cruiser Elite said:
And extremely very deep and meaningful Preliminary Strategisationment it was to - so time to get to work.

Accomodation: I want to firstly start with accommodation in particular Hotel V Apartment. I am traditionally 100% hotel type - Cruiserette pretty similar - but more than happy to go down the Apartment path if deemed suitable.

My major concern with Hotel V Apartment is security of luggage and possessions. Hotels provide several layers of protection - ie people with ill intent need to get past hotel employees and then need to access rooms where in most cases electronic access cards are useless post check out. Can you good people who have traversed the French wine regions offer advice as to whether apartments offer any level of such security? Cruiserette will be travelling and working and her laptop is her mobile office - without it she is screwed - mine nowhere near this level but I too will be doing some degree of work each day and need laptop also.

Am I being paranoid here? I am not at all concerned about monetary value and I am not the type to lock my toiletries in a hotel safe each day - but we do want the peace of mind knowing that ticket wallets containing passports etc are safely locked away in a safe daily and that our laptops will still be in the room when returning after a day out visiting wineries or other touristy things.

One other major consideration is a pool - we are travelling June 16 to July 5 - summer - and ideally want pool access daily if we so desire to take a dip / relax and sip a drink. Hotels tick this box but apartments unlikely to do so - would appreciate input please good AFFers.
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I'm not the best person to give advice about accommodation. Mostly I travel alone, so I do an odd assortment of accommodation, avoiding 'luxury' hotels unless there is a very specific reason not to. Even when PartnerJohnM accompanies me, as was the case for my last visit to France, we tend to go for small and convenient with car parking rather than palatial.

You do seem a bit paranoid about the security to me, but one needs to feel comfortable and not be worrying about what may happen otherwise you won't enjoy yourself. I never go anywhere without my passport on my person.
 
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JohnM said:
You do seem a bit paranoid about the security to me, but one needs to feel comfortable and not be worrying about what may happen otherwise you won't enjoy yourself. I never go anywhere without my passport on my person.
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Thanks JohnM - I NEVER go anywhere with passport on me - and I never have cash stashed in room - CC 100% time - whenever we stay in hotels I set up computer after check in and pack it away when we leave - I don't think I am paranoid just kinda looking acceptable level of security.
 
One point I omitted from accommodation query is that it is our intention to stay 3 to 5 nts each location in one single hotel / apartment - none of this packing / unpacking / moving camp each day. The location will be mini base to feed out to wineries or attractions each day then return to base - hence the security requirement - hope that is clear.
 
Cruiser Elite said:
OK next step good people - 4 nts in Champagne region - Reims or Epernay and why please?
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I've stayed at both and I prefer Epernay. It's smaller with a cosier feel, has many of the most prestigious Champagne houses pretty much in walking distance of the town centre, it is close to Hautvillers (Dom Perignon's Abbey) - although neither are far from Reims, which is an easy drive if you have a car. IMHO, Reims is a place to visit from Epernay, not the other way round but YMMV.
 
I would add that whether I am in 3 star or 5 star, I would never leave my laptop out set up. It always is placed in the safe or in the unfortunate case where there isn't one or it doesn't fit, back in my roll aboard in the cupboard.

The number of thefts from 5 star hotels is astounding, and they have no responsibility under the law to keep your valuables safe.
 
You and I must be staying at diff 5* hotels CFWM - in 20+ yrs have never had anything lifted - but we all march to a different drum - but I certainly appreciate you taking time to post.
 
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