Dijon and the Route des Grands Crus: the guide to Burgundy wine

France is not lacking in exceptional wine regions, but the Burgundy occupies a special place — a region where centuries of winemaking tradition meet a landscape and a city that can truly be explored on foot. If you are planning a wine tourism trip to France, here’s why Burgundy, and its capital Dijon, deserve your full attention.

Why Burgundy is an essential wine region

La Bourgogne est l'une des régions viticoles les plus importantes historiquement au monde, berceau d'appellations que les amateurs de vin reconnaissent au premier coup d'œil — Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune, Chablis, et la mosaïque de petits villages qui les relient. Ce qui la distingue n'est pas l'échelle, mais la précision : les vignobles bourguignons sont célèbres pour leur découpage en petites parcelles distinctes, chacune exprimant son propre caractère selon le sol et l'exposition. C'est une région faite pour la curiosité — le genre d'endroit où une courte conversation avec la bonne personne peut vous en apprendre plus qu'un guide de voyage.

Beyond the wine itself, Burgundy offers rolling landscapes, medieval villages, and a culinary culture deeply rooted in its terroir — mustard, cheese, snails, and beef bourguignon all find their roots in this region.

Dijon, gateway to the vineyards of Burgundy

Au centre de la Bourgogne se trouve Dijon, une ville qui parvient à être à la fois une porte d'entrée vers les vignobles et une destination à part entière. Son centre historique — un dédale de rues médiévales et Renaissance — se parcourt entièrement à pied, ancré autour du Palais des Ducs de Bourgogne et de dizaines de maisons à colombages vieilles de plusieurs siècles.

Dijon is also a true gastronomic city. The birthplace of Dijon mustard, it has built a culinary identity based on precision and quality, evident in its covered markets, bistros, and thriving food scene. For travelers, it offers something rare: a compact and walkable base to discover Burgundy without the need for a car or a multi-day itinerary.

6 must-visit wine villages south of Dijon

Once Dijon is explored, the real temptation begins: a few kilometers to the south stretches the Route des Grands Crus, a ribbon of villages that has made Burgundy's global reputation. Here is a selection of must-see stops for those who want to explore the Côte, to nibble on according to the available time.

• Gevrey-Chambertin — The northernmost village of the Côte de Nuits, just outside Dijon. It has nine grand crus in its territory, including the famous Chambertin, once the wine of choice for Napoleon.
• Nuits-Saint-Georges — A lively small town that gives its name to the entire Côte de Nuits. It deserves a stop to stroll through its streets and taste wines renowned for their structure and depth.
• Les Hautes-Côtes — A high detour, above the Côte, offering spectacular panoramas of the vineyards below. The Hautes-Côtes-de-Nuits and Hautes-Côtes-de-Beaune produce more affordable wines, supported by often passionate and accessible winemakers.
• Ladoix-Serrigny — A discreet village at the junction between Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune, touching the slopes of the prestigious Corton, one of the few grand crus of Burgundy produced in both red and white.
• Pernand-Vergelesses — Nestled in a picturesque valley away from the main axis. Its peaceful setting and wines of beautiful finesse make it a lesser-known but equally memorable stop.
• Volnay — An emblematic village of the Côte de Beaune, renowned for its red wines among the most elegant and delicate in all of Burgundy — often described as the most "feminine" in the region, in contrast to the power of some crus from the Côte de Nuits.

Each of these villages could, on its own, justify an entire day. Together, they create a route that summarizes everything that makes Burgundy unique: the proximity, the diversity of the terroirs, and that feeling of crossing, in just a few kilometers, centuries of wine history.

To discover these terroirs without taking the wheel, the Vino Dilectio tasting workshops, in a vaulted cellar in the center of Dijon, offer a first guided approach to Burgundy wines.