A romantic couple getting away from the hustle and bustle and finding themselves walking hand in hand in small village streets in Burgundy; that’s the experience you will live in the Pays Beaunois area. But first of all, Burgundy in autumn is the time of the grape harvest. And it’s at this very harvest time that your heart will touch the soul of Burgundy. Some wine domains of the Côte de Beaune offer harvest experiences, like the Château de Pommard, the Domaine Besancenot or the Château de la Crée. Our harvest heroes had the pleasure of sharing these magical moments with Pascal Charles at the Domaine Charles in Nantoux. They followed in the steps of the harvesters, their hands on steel-sharp secateurs and their shoulders supporting the grape baskets and hods. There they were – taking part in the harvest: the atmosphere, the good humour, the pleasure of sharing those moments when everyone knows that the quality of the wines of Burgundy depends on this work. Such excitement to know that one is participating a little in the creation of a great wine. Back in the winery with the crop, harvester hands are busy on the sorting conveyor. Just by touch, their experience tells them which berries to reject. Their fingers dance back and fore, caressing the grapes, ending up covered in sugar from the ripe bunches of red Pinot Noir or white Chardonnay. Autumn in Burgundy also means vast expanses of colours that spread as far as the eye can see. At dawn or nightfall, the ballet of sunlight on the bronze and russet leaves offers a spectacle worthy of the most beautiful canvasses of Van Gogh. The Hill of Corton is resplendent and reigns over these hectares of vineyard fragmented in small parcels. The Climats of Burgundy have donned their autumnal fineries. These are the same shades of yellow, orange, red to be found on the lacquered roof tiles of the monuments and castles of Beaune and the villages of the Pays Beaunois area: Aloxe-Corton, Meursault, Beaune, Santenay… It’s the perfect time for two people to escape for a romantic jaunt in a Citroën 2CV or hand in hand. Stop for a few moments in the square of Savigny-lès-Beaune and exchange contented glances. You will return to Beaune to visit the Hospices de Beaune. This historical monument was a ground-breaking hospital from its construction in 1492. And finally, come back in mid-November to be present at the mythical Wine Auction of the Hospices de Beaune. This charitable sale, directed today by the famous Christie’s auction house, is one of the sources of revenue for the public hospital in Beaune. The barrels of wine put up for auction come from the Domaine des Hospices de Beaune: the greatest wines come together there every year and are made available to professional buyers from the whole world. The town of Beaune and its surrounding villages are simmering with a very special excitement at that time. It is time to party. The laughter, togetherness, heated discussions combine to recompense the hard labour of winemakers each year to create and perfect some of the best wines in the world. Many Burgundians will whisper it in your ear: autumn is the most beautiful of the seasons.
