French Wine Trip Planning
I’ll design your wine trip. You’ll actually enjoy planning it.
Custom itineraries for travelers who want real access, not tourist circuits.
The Challenge
Planning a wine trip to France sounds romantic until you actually start.
You’ve got the dates. Maybe a rough idea of regions. But then the questions pile up:
- Which producers actually accept visitors? And how do you contact them when half don’t have websites?
- Is it realistic to do Champagne and Burgundy in the same trip?
- Should you rent a car or take the train?
- Where should you stay if you want to be near the vineyards, not stuck in a city?
- How do you avoid the overpriced tasting rooms that cater to tour buses?
Google gives you lists. What you need is someone who lives here, speaks the language, and knows how the country actually works.
How I Work
I design wine itineraries for people who want depth, not a checklist.
Every trip starts with a conversation. I want to understand how you like to travel, what you’re curious about, and what would make this trip feel like yours.
- Real access to producers I know personally, not just cellar doors that take walk-ins
- Logistics that reflect how France actually works: travel times, lunch hours, seasonal closures
- Restaurant recommendations from locals, not TripAdvisor
- Cultural context that helps you understand what you’re tasting and why it matters
- Pacing that leaves room to breathe, wander, and stumble onto something unexpected
Services & Pricing
Choose the level of support that fits how you like to travel.
Planning Consultation
€99
60-minute video call
You have a plan forming and want expert input to refine it.
What’s included
- One-hour video consultation
- Regional recommendations tailored to your trip
- Producer, restaurant, and hotel suggestions
- Written summary after our call
- Follow-up questions via email (1 week)
Custom Itinerary
€450/day
2-day minimum · You handle bookings
You want a complete, thoughtful plan designed around your interests.
What’s included
- 30-minute discovery call
- Detailed day-by-day itinerary
- Producer contacts with booking instructions
- Restaurant and hotel recommendations by location
- Driving directions with parking notes
- Cultural and packing tips
- Email support during planning
- One round of revisions
Example: 4-day Burgundy trip = €1,800
Request ItineraryFull-Service Planning
€750/day
1-day minimum · I handle bookings
You want everything designed and arranged. Just show up.
Everything in Custom Itinerary, plus
- All producer appointments booked for you
- All restaurant reservations made
- Hotel recommendations with booking guidance
- Driver coordination if you prefer not to drive
- Pre-trip confirmation of all arrangements
- WhatsApp support during your trip
- Two rounds of revisions
Example: 4-day trip = €3,000
Request Full ServiceWant a guided tour day as part of your trip? Many clients combine independent days with one or two privately guided experiences. View private tours →
What You’ll Receive
A sample three-day Burgundy itinerary
Day 1 · Beaune & Côte de Beaune
Morning: Arrive in Beaune, settle into your hotel in the historic center (specific recommendation based on your style and budget).
11:00: Private tasting inside a 15th-century cellar at a family domaine in Meursault. Appointment-only, English-speaking.
13:00: Lunch at a locals-only bistro in Beaune — the kind of place you’d walk right past.
15:00: Cheese and wine pairing class led by a winemaker’s daughter. You’ll learn why Époisses and Burgundy were made for each other.
Late afternoon: Wander through Beaune. I’ll point you toward a ceramicist’s atelier and an herbal tea shop worth a stop.
Evening: Dinner recommendations provided, or I can arrange a reservation at a Michelin-starred table if that’s your style.
Day 2 · Côte de Nuits
Morning: Head north to Gevrey-Chambertin (30 min). Parking notes and timing guidance included.
10:00: Private tour and barrel tasting at an established négociant house — the kind with deep cellar access and stories that go back generations.
12:30: Lunch in Nuits-Saint-Georges at a wine bar with an excellent by-the-glass selection. A chance to taste outside the domaines you’re visiting.
15:00: Small grower visit in Vosne-Romanée. No website, no signage — just a family making exceptional wine. This is the access you can’t get on your own.
17:00: Quick stop at an artisan mustard maker in Dijon on your way back.
Evening: Return to Beaune or overnight in Dijon (hotel options for both).
Day 3 · Beaujolais or Chablis
Option A — Beaujolais: Head south into the granite hills of Morgon and Fleurie. Visit two small domaines, lunch at a village auberge, and see a completely different side of Burgundy’s neighbor.
Option B — Chablis: Drive north for crisp Chardonnay and oyster pairings. Tour a premier cru vineyard and taste in a cellar carved into Kimmeridgian limestone.
I’ll recommend the right fit based on your preferences and design the day accordingly.
Is This Right for You?
This service works best for a certain kind of traveler.
A good fit if you:
- Value experience and understanding over ticking boxes
- Want access to producers who don’t always open their doors to everyone
- Are curious travelers looking for meaning, not just tastings
- Want to connect what’s in your glass to the place and people who made it
- Are collectors looking for undiscovered gems
- Appreciate a well-paced plan with room to breathe
- Are willing to invest in doing it right
Probably not a fit if you:
- Want to wing it and see what happens
- Are primarily chasing famous labels and Grand Cru names
- Need a guide with you every day (see private tours instead)
- Are booking with less than 3 weeks notice
- Have a very tight budget
Client Experiences
“Top notch help and guidance from a local fully submerged in the wine and travel culture of Bourgogne, and greater France. Emily asked the right questions and crafted a highly personalized itinerary based on my responses and desired goals. She even offered suggested reading and viewing titles to help prepare us for our journey. High value add well beyond the investment.”
“Definitely the best experience of our trip to France — by far. Four wine novices hoping to get educated, explore the region and sample some really good wine. Emily and Nicolas exceeded all of our expectations.”
Questions
Frequently asked
How far in advance should I book?
Two to three months is ideal. Some producers require six to eight weeks notice for appointments, especially during harvest season (September–October) and the summer months.
Do you book everything for me?
It depends on the service level. With Full-Service Planning, I make all producer and restaurant reservations. With Custom Itinerary, I provide contacts and instructions, and you book directly. I can’t book hotels or anything requiring a credit card, but I’ll tell you exactly where to stay and why.
Can you plan trips outside Burgundy?
Absolutely. Champagne is a specialty, and I design itineraries across all French wine regions — the Loire, Rhône, Burgundy, Bordeaux, Provence, Alsace. I also help with Paris and Lyon: where to eat, what to see, which wine bars are worth your time. My deepest on-the-ground expertise is Burgundy, Beaujolais, and the Northern Rhône, but I’ve planned trips throughout France.
What if I want both trip planning and a guided tour day?
Many clients do exactly this. I’ll design the days you explore independently, then personally guide you for one or two days in Burgundy, Beaujolais, or the Northern Rhône. It’s a nice way to balance freedom with deeper access.
What if my dates change after you’ve planned?
Minor adjustments are no problem. Significant changes to dates or regions may require additional planning time, which we’ll discuss as needed.
Do you offer refunds?
Planning work begins immediately after our discovery call. I don’t offer refunds once work has started, but I’m committed to delivering something you’ll be happy with.
Start Planning
Tell me about your trip.
Fill out the form below and I’ll respond within 48 hours with initial thoughts and next steps. No obligation.
Not ready for the full form? Start with a quick question.
Or explore private guided tours if you’d like me with you for the day.
