Mon–Fri : 0900 - 1800
Sat : 0900 - 1700
Sun & BH: Closed
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot
Expert Holiday Directors
60 years experience
Part of the Royal Geographical Society collection, travel from top to toe and explore Italy’s famous landmarks. Visit iconic cities Venice, Florence and Rome and discover the hidden gems of Pompeii, Sicily and more.
Explore the awe-inspiring Rocky Mountains and the vibrant cities of Victoria and Vancouver on a holiday that’s packed full of magnificent sights and scenery.
From Tokyo to Kyoto, Osaka and beyond, discover the unforgettable highlights of Japan including an incredible high-speed ride on the Bullet Train.
Discover the chalk-rich hills of Champagne and the rolling patchwork of Burgundy’s vineyards, where wine has been made for centuries.
Experience how Champagne’s bubbles are created, and discover the elegant Pinot Noirs of the Burgundy, and crisp, flinty Chablis.
Must-see sights include Reims’s cathedral, Épernay’s chalk cellars, Troyes’ storybook lanes, Clos de Vougeot’s monastic presses, and Dijon’s UNESCO-listed heart.
Savour the delights of the Dijon market halls, authentic Beaune mustard tastings, and the fresh, seasonal produce of the Sens covered market.
Travel the easy way on Travelsphere’s Champagne & Burgundy tour with expert guides, comfortable stays, and a seamless Eurostar return.
Champagne and Burgundy are more than just names on wine bottles; they are beloved French regions shaped by chalk and limestone, cloister walls, ancient trade routes, and centuries of wine making. To wander through them is to trace the footsteps of kings, monks, and visionary vintners.
This first-timer’s region guide maps out the moments that make each region so memorable: the soaring façade of Reims Cathedral, the cool hush of Épernay’s subterranean chalk cellars, Dijon’s golden-stone lanes and market halls, the vine-laced slopes of the Côte d’Or, and the stony shimmer of Chablis.
Whether you are a lifelong oenophile or simply someone who appreciates a crisp glass of white on a summer afternoon, understanding these famed wine regions can help you better appreciate your favourite wines.
They also make a superb travel experience. Discover our broader range of escorted tours and guided holidays to France, or explore further afield with our collection of Europe tours.
North of Paris, the landscape shifts into gentle waves of green. This is Champagne, a region defined by its terroir; a French term encompassing the soil, climate, and soul of the land.
Here, the soil is thick with prehistoric chalk. This white, porous earth acts like a sponge, soaking up heat during the day and providing a steady water supply to the vines, resulting in the high acidity and elegance that define the world’s most famous sparkling wine.
The signature profile of Champagne is derived from three grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. While most bottles are a blend of all three, you may also encounter:
Blanc de Blancs – made entirely from white Chardonnay grapes.
Blanc de Noirs – crafted solely from black Pinot Noir or Pinot Meunier grapes.
The prestige of Champagne lies in how it’s made, using the Méthode Traditionnelle (also known as the Méthode Champenoise). Unlike other sparkling wines made in large tanks, Champagne undergoes a secondary fermentation inside the bottle, which creates the famous bubbles. It then rests on its ‘lees’ (remains of the yeast) for at least 15 months, often much longer, to develop sophisticated notes of toasted brioche, almond, and citrus zest.
When you see a premium price tag, you are paying for the precision and patience that goes into Champagne’s production. The name is also legally protected. Only sparkling wine grown in this specific French region and made using the strict traditional methods can carry the ‘Champagne’ title. So when you hear the pop of a cork, you are hearing the result of centuries of expertise.
There’s more to the Champagne region than its sparkling wine. Its charming historic towns, gourmet cuisine, and historic cathedrals can provide enriching breaks between tastings and vineyard wanders.
Reims is the cultural heartbeat of Champagne and the region’s capital city.
Often called the ‘Coronation City,' Reims is home to the Cathédrale Notre-Dame (not to be confused with its Parisian counterpart). With its soaring Gothic façade and glowing stained glass, it has seen the coronation of 33 French kings. Walking through its portal, you feel the weight of a millennium of history.
After spending time in the cathedral’s interior, which is lit by blue and red stained-glass pools of light, those travelling on Travelsphere’s Champagne & Burgundy tour will visit a Champagne house, descending into its chalk cellars for a tasting.
Reims is a city that’s perfect for exploration. You can wander boulevards lined with Art Deco façades, slip down cobbled side streets to discover boutiques, patisseries and wine bars, or stop in leafy squares to soak up the atmosphere.
You might follow a route through the historic centre, stop for a glass of Champagne or a platter of local cheeses, or simply settle at a pavement café and watch everyday life unfold.
If Reims is the spiritual home, Épernay is the commercial heart of Champagne. Beneath the Avenue de Champagne lie miles of labyrinthine chalk tunnels. As part of Travelsphere’s wine tour, you’ll descend into these cool, dimly lit cellars to see millions of bottles maturing in the dark, finishing with a tasting that illustrates why this small town is the sparkling capital of the world.
Above ground, grand wine mansions line the boulevard, each with a distinct house style and story to share.
South of Reims, Troyes feels like a medieval storybook sketch come to life. Its wonky, half-timbered houses come in shades of soft pink and blue, and the cobbled lanes are famously narrow. The town was once a significant stop on medieval trade routes, and its wealth is still visible in the finely worked façades and churches.
On our tour, you can enjoy a guided exploration of Cats’ Alley, so narrow a cat could leap from one window ledge to the next, see the Goldsmith’s House, and learn about Troyes’ stained glass traditions.
If you choose to visit, Hautvillers rewards visitors with hillside views and wrought-iron shop signs that trace local trades. It’s a gentle stop for a local tasting and a wander past the abbey where the world-famous monk, Dom Pérignon, worked, which is also home to the premier Champagne label.
As you travel south, the bubbles give way to something more grounded and earthy. Burgundy (or Bourgogne) is a patchwork quilt of tiny vineyard parcels, some no larger than a typical garden, each with its own name and distinct character.
The region spans roughly from Dijon to Santenay, with notable side regions including Chablis to the north and the Mâconnais to the south.
In Burgundy, they talk about climats. These are precisely named vineyard plots on the slopes of the Côte d’Or. In 2015, they were granted UNESCO World Heritage status.
Each plot has its own unique soil, slope, exposure, and drainage, and have been mapped and tended to for centuries.
Two grapes dominate here: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Pinot Noir is the grape of choice for Burgundy’s red wines, producing perfumed, refined wines with gentle acidity and notes that range from rose petal and red cherry to forest floor and spice as they age.
Chardonnay grapes produce white wines with a long finish and mineral character, featuring notes of citrus, green apple, hazelnut, and flint.
Equal care goes into the production and labelling of Burgundy wines. The region uses a clear hierarchy, shown on each label, to indicate how specific the origin of the grapes is:
Regional – Wine made from grapes grown anywhere throughout the Burgundy region.
Village – Wine made from grapes from a specific village, such as Volnay or Pommard.
Premier Cru – Made from grapes grown in climats within a village (such as Volnay 1er Cru Les Caillerets).
Grand Cru – Rare, age-worthy wines produced in Burgundy’s most prestigious vineyards that have an appellation.
A historic region comprising rolling vineyards, flowing canals, dense forests, and luxurious châteaux, Burgundy is a highlight for any Francophile.
More than just its famous condiment, the elegant city of Dijon was once the capital of the powerful Dukes of Burgundy. The golden-stone buildings of the old town glow in late afternoon light, and visitors walk through cobbled streets that zigzag between timbered houses and Renaissance façades.
The famous covered market, designed by Gustave Eiffel, is busy with cheese mongers and spice traders selling seasonal produce piled high on stalls.
This city is easily explorable in a day. With Travelsphere, you’ll have time to explore Dijon’s UNESCO-listed centre at your own pace. You might choose to enjoy a leisurely lunch or browse the local shops and markets. To see some of the city’s highlights, many visitors follow the bronze owl markers set into the pavement.
Perched above the Auxois valley is the medieval stronghold of Château de Châteauneuf. From its ramparts, visitors can enjoy views that stretch across fields and forests to the faint lines of vineyards beyond.
The château’s architecture and insight into French feudal life make it a fascinating stop.
Originally a Cistercian wine farm, this is the spiritual home of Burgundy wine. You can stand in the ancient press rooms where monks once worked, seeing the Climats up close through the stone walls that have protected these vines for centuries.
On our guided tour, you’ll discover how the clos helped shape the concept of ‘terroir’, and you’ll have the chance to taste for yourself how the monks’ vision lives on in the wines made here.
In Burgundy, mustard is a culinary staple with deep local roots.
The balance of seeds, vinegar, and terroir (a combination of soil and climate) shapes every jar of mustard produced here. A visit to a traditional moutarderie offers a sharp, sensory palate cleanser; their mustard pairings with local wines are a revelation.
If you’re keen to add a classic Pinot village to your day, our tour offers an optional excursion to Nuits-Saint-Georges.
For those who want to explore further, the village of Nuits-Saint-Georges is a renowned hub for classic Pinot Noir wines. It’s the perfect place to find an intimate bistro and watch the world go by with a glass of local red.
The town of Chablis sits closer to Champagne than to Beaune, and its northerly influence can be tasted in every sip.
Chardonnay is the principal grape in the area. Grown in ‘Kimmeridgian’ soil, a mix of limestone, clay, and fossilised oyster shells, Chardonnay here takes on a distinct flinty, mineral quality.
Like in Burgundy, Chablis has a hierarchy of labels for its wine:
Petit Chablis – Light and zesty, perfect for an aperitif.
Chablis – Locally popular village-style, this is crisp, citrusy, with the signature minerality.
Premier Cru – Grapes from sunnier slopes make these more textured wines with stone fruit notes.
Grand Cru – The most prestigious Chablis, made from only seven vineyard plots on a single southwest-facing hill above the town.
For a truly French experience, pair a glass of chilled Chablis wine with fresh shellfish, a simple goat’s cheese salad, or crunchy greens. Its citrus and saline notes pair well with the flavours in these dishes. A Premier Cru pairs well with roast chicken scattered with fresh herbs, as it can meet the roast’s savoury richness.
On our tour, you’ll meet a local producer for a guided tasting to gain a deeper understanding of Chablis wine. You’ll also have free time to explore. Perhaps browse the shops along the Grand Rue, or take in the covered market with its distinctive brick façade.
Before we return to Paris from our adventures in Champagne and Burgundy, Sens offers a graceful goodbye to your time in France.
Its towering Gothic cathedral, one of the first in France, is a calming presence in the town, while the covered markets are busy with locals shopping for their early-morning cut flowers and fresh ingredients.
An overnight stay in Sens, accompanied by a farewell dinner, is a wonderful way to bring your Travelsphere trip to a close. It’s the perfect chance to reflect on your discoveries and share memories with fellow travellers.
With Travelsphere, exploring Champagne and Burgundy is easy and rewarding. Our expert travel team and your dedicated Holiday Director quietly handle all the details and provide insights and guidance if you’re keen to explore at your own pace.
There’s so much to see and do in these regions of France. If you’re ready to explore, our new Champagne & Burgundy escorted tour will take you from Reims to Dijon and Épernay to Chablis, with thoughtful stops and a seamless journey home on the Eurostar from Paris to St Pancras.
Enjoy the stunning Champagne & Burgundy regions with medieval towns, rolling hills covered in vineyards and sample some local wines.
