French Holiday Ideas | Food and wine courses in Burgundy

There are few regions so perfectly suited to adventurous French foodies as Burgundy.

The region in Central-Eastern France brings to the table such world famous gastronomic delights as snails, Bresse chicken (reputed to be the finest poultry in the world), delicious stews such as Boeuf Bourguignon (beef in red wine stew) and Coq au Vin (chicken in red wine sauce), as well as amazing steaks from Charolais beef.

The capital Dijon provides us the fiery mustard, of course, and then there are the celebrated local cheeses, smelly AOC classic Epoisses and Citeaux, made by monks at the Abbaye of the same name.

Naturally with so much fine regional cuisine to offer, it needs to be washed down with a bottle or two of great wine, something that Burgundy does as well as any other part of France.

There is an incredible array of styles and tastes to enjoy in Burgundy bottlings – from the flinty whites of Chablis to fruity young reds of Beaujolais, from Pinoit Noir to Chardonnay, there is something to tease all palettes.

It stands to reason, then, that anyone with a love of food and wine seeking to expand their knowledge – be it through learning how to appreciate wine on its own or how to match food with their favourite type of wine, should head to Burgundy to learn in situ.

To get you in the mood for booking a trip there, first why not head to the Burgundy wine board’s useful website to learn a bit about the basics of wine tasting, including what to look out for in terms of colour and intensity, the nose and finally the taste. This will stand you in good stead for when you actually taste for real.

Once you are ready to head to Burgundy, this official wine board also offers a series of courses on the secrets of dégustation, with classes held in Beaune, Mâcon and Chablis:

If you prefer to create your own wine tasting break, the region offers some great options – wine tourism is becoming increasingly popular, with itineraries to suit all requirements.

Obviously it’s preferable not to do the driving yourself so a good option is Burgundy Discovery (www.burgundydiscovery.com), run by David and Lynne Hammond, who create wine- tasting tours for small groups to cellars and vineyards.

Then there are companies such as Arblaster and Clarke (www.arblasterandclarke.com) and Grape Escapes (www.grapeescapes.net) that provide comprehensive all-in packages.

To combine food and wine education, Burgundy On A Plate (www.burgundyonaplate.com) provides a tour of the route des Grands Crus with some amazing food tastings thrown in along the way.

There is even a Tour for Wine and Cheese Lovers. Perfect for those seeking good food and wine matches.

Finally, if you wish to create fine cuisine in under the guidance of some of Burgundy’s best chefs, you’re spoilt for choice: head to Marc Meneau's Cookery Course (www.marc-meneau-esperance.com); Chateau d'Ancy-le-Franc for tutelage by Parisian Chef, Judicaël Ruch (www.chateau-ancy.com); or Terre d’Or (www.laterredor.com), where you will also head off to market to select produce for your own seasonal cookery class!

Selection of Cooking holidays in France

French Holidays accommodation: Gites and B&B in Burgundy

Places to visit in Burgundy

December,14th by Katharine Barrau