Burgundy Hospices de Beaune & Musique et Vin au Clos Vougeot

Itinerary

Day 1 – Tuesday 26 June We meet in Beaune this evening at the 4* hotel for a welcome glass of Champagne. Then stroll to the cellars of Maison Joseph Drouhin for our private dinner and first tasting across their superb range, right up to their Grand Crus. As Charles Metcalfe accompanies us, and as supporters of the hospices auctions, of course they will ensure that special vintages are opened!

Day 2 – Wednesday 27 June Today we will visit Charles Metcalfe’s personal selection of small high quality domaines and enjoy a fabulous lunch at a Michelin starred restaurant.
In the afternoon and this evening there is free time to explore Beaune, perhaps take a tour of the Hôtel-Dieu in Beaune town centre or just relax at our hotel in Beaune.

Day 3 – Thursday 28 June After our first visit and tasting in the Côte de Nuits today, we visit Faiveley, in Nuits-St-George. We see our very own 2011 Hospices barrels and hear about their progress. We taste our wine and a further selection of superb wines from Faiveley.
After lunch at the dynamic Corton estate, Domaine Senard, we continue to a special invitation to taste at Domaine de la Vougeraie. This evening we have dinner at the prestigious and well-respected Albert Bichot.

Day 4 – Friday 29 June
This morning we are joined by Anthony Hanson MW and Roland Masse, Regisseur of the Domaine de Hospices de Beaune for a visit to the vineyards of the Hospices.
We return to Beaune for lunchtime, to explore and relax before the late afternoon/early evening departure for This evening there is a private invitation to the Gala event of ‘Musique et Vin au Clos Vougeot’ with Joyce DiDonato, probably the world’s best mezzo soprano at present.
This is followed by dinner at the Clos Vougeot and accompanied by the finest Burgundies. The after dinner charity auction of special rare bottles has Anthony Hanson MW as the auctioneer.

Day 5 – Saturday 30 June Breakfast at the hotel.
Depart on your choice of transport.

Hotels:

3* Hotel, central Beaune
Situated a short walk from the city walls and just around the corner from our 4* hotel, this is a characterful 3*. Although situated near a main road into Beaune, there is good double glazing and noise is not noticeable. Rooms are traditionally decorated. French breakfast is served to you in the breakfast room or courtyard but do ask if you require eggs or fruit!

4* Hotel, central Beaune, upgrade choice
This traditional Hotel is situated just outside Beaune’s medieval walls. It has been redecorated in the last few years in warm colours with modern bathrooms. It has an excellent brasserie and restaurant and superb, spacious bar (our favourite hotel bar in France!).

After the 10th April 2012, our room allocation will be reduced for the hotel for this tour. Although there may be space on the tour after this date, you may be offered alternative accommodation. Therefore early booking is strongly recommended for the best price and to ensure availability on the included travel and at the main tour hotels.

Travel Details

Transport to Burgundy is not provided in order to give you maximum flexibility, but please see some of our tips below:-

Drive: It is an easy days drive to Beaune from Calais. Beaune is 613 km from Calais (of which 600 km is on motorways). Visit www.viamichelin.com for directions. We provide local directions to the hotel with your final itinerary. Travel Dover-Calais with P&O (Tel: 08705 20 20 20 www.poferries.com) or Folkestone-Calais with Le Shuttle (Tel: 01303 272222 www.eurotunnel.com). Once in France it is a five and a half hour drive to Beaune. Champagne is en route so you could stop off and stock up on some Champagne on your way!

Train: Take the Eurostar to Paris then TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon to Beaune, which takes between 2:15 and 2:30 hours. You can book the train from three months before departure on www.raileurope.com We can book trains for you for a £35 per booking administration fee, plus full payment is due at time of booking.

Do please check with the office when booking your return train to ensure that it fits in with the complimentary transfer (see below). Please call us for further details and suggestions, we will be happy to book your transport, or assist you in making your own arrangements. We are very happy to quote for train travel, and to book these for you (the full price will be payable along with an administration charge in order to book these and these are non-refundable and non changeable).

The Wine Buying Syndicate details

The cost of your part of the barrel is: €600 per 12 bottles. The minimum purchase is one case.

The euros for the wines must be deposited by bank transfer into Arblaster & Clarke Wine Tours Euro account held in the UK and paid at the time of the main booking.
This amount cannot be paid in any other currency and you must ensure that your bank does not deduct any fees from the amount to be deposited so that the full amount is received into our account. Please call if you would like to be put on the waiting list for more than one case per person. Bank details will be provided at time of booking.

The price of your 12 bottle case of 2011 Beaune 1er Cru Cuvée Guigone de Salins includes:

• The wine & 19.6% French VAT.
• 7% buyers premium & 19.6% French VAT on the premium.
• Storage and ‘elevage’ of the barrel by Faiveley & 19.6% French VAT.
• The cost of the barrel that wine is to be stored in.
• Bottling into standard 75cl bottles
• All wines will be labelled as the Arblaster & Clarke Wine Syndicate with the classic Hospices de Beaune wine labels, appropriate to the appellation.

Collecting your wines – Spring 2013

Collection / delivery is not included.

The wine will be ready for bottling, plus collection or delivery in the spring of 2013. 
As soon as we have a specific date we will contact you to ask if you would like it delivering, with all the costs involved for UK deliveries only and who these payments should be made to. You can also go and collect it personally, perhaps join an A&C vineyard walk or other trip to Burgundy as an excuse to do so!

Wine price does not include:
Any costs connected with collection or delivery of the wines.
Within the EU there will be no duty to pay if the wines are for personal consumption. Non-EU importers should check with their own authorities.

In the event of your cancellation:

The normal cancellation conditions apply to the tour, but there is no refund on the wine bought in the syndicate, and so you would be entitled to your share of the wine under the same conditions as the rest of the party in the event of your cancellation.
Early booking is essential in order to guarantee the availability of the wine and all payments for the wine must be received with your booking form.