Staying at Domaine de Cromey in Burgundy Visiting Beaune

The home of burgundywine.com by Elden Selections in Burgundy is the Domaine de Cromey, and it is an ideal base to experience the vacation of a lifetime in Burgundy. Not only does it have charm and history, but it is also located near some of the most fascinating attractions in France. In this article, we will explore the iconic town of Beaune, the historical and spiritual centre of Burgundy’s wine trade, and a global exemplar for excellence in wines. Here's what you need to know about visiting Beaune.

Visiting Beaune and Its Hospices   

Beaune is just a half-hour drive from Domaine de Cromey, situated near the top of a map of Burgundy. It is at the heart of the area known as the Cote d’Or - the region of terroir made up from the Cote de Beaune (to the south of Beaune) and the Cote de Nuits (to its north).  

There is plenty to do in Beaune itself with many guided tours and historic buildings (see below). For those who want to explore the nearby countryside, a horse-drawn carriage ride through the vineyards, accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, provides an opportunity to taste some of the finest vineyards on earth. Alternatively, adventurous visitors can opt for a hot air balloon ride to enjoy a bird's eye view of the surroundings. There are also options for hiking and biking excursions, with some of the best routes starting from Domaine de Cromey.   

But an essential part of any trip to Beaune is a visit to the Hospices de Beaune. This magnificent building, famous for its eye-catching glazed roof tiles, was built in 1443 to provide assistance to the locals during periods of war and sickness. The building also boasts its own vineyards and hosts a wine auction every November to raise money for good causes. For a list of upcoming events and booking information, go to the Beaune Tourism website.   

The Wine of Beaune 

When you're visiting Beaune, you should also explore the countryside around it. It's special in the wine world; seven out of eight Burgundy white Grands Crus and one of its red Grand Crus come from here. It also features 42 Premier Cru climats (plots). Some of the most famous vineyards that surround Beaune include Pommard and Volnay, Meursault, Chassagne and Puligny to the south and Savigny-les-Beaune and the hill of Corton to the north. We have built relationships with many of the best small producers in these areas, and they make a great place to start exploring the wines of Beaune:

The Best BurgundyWine.com Producers from Beaune  

• Michel Arcelain: this producer makes several Beaune wines that we would recommend to your delectation... first up is his Beaune ‘Siserpe’ - an ethereal wine whose palate is fine-tuned and full of fine tannins and fruits, subtly nuanced. We also stock his Beaune 1er Cru 'Clos des Mouches' for those special occasions. This one is from probably the best-known parcel of vines around Beaune – the Clos de Mouches. As such, it is fine, lacy and elegant with an impeccably balanced intensity.  

• Michel Rebourgeon: the appellation Volnay – one of the ones Michel makes wines in - is one of the finest and best-loved, and for good reason. It produces sylph-like wines which have a sort of supple laciness making them both intense but also effortlessly light. Wines like his Volnay 1er Cru 'Carelle Sous la Chapelle' demonstrate that style to perfection.  

• Jean Claude Rateau: the Beaune 1er Cru ‘Les Reversées from this producer has been fermented lovingly and then aged for 18 months in oak – which is how it gets its rich aromas of blackberry and violets, its ‘pluminess’ and its long finish.  

• Jean Jacque Girard: Puligny Montrachet is one of the most revered and coveted appellations int he wine world, and we have the best of it in our cellars! The Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru 'Les Referts' is a cut above most others; perfectly balancing opulence and precision, you get all the hallmarks of this name such as flint, luscious fruit, creamy texture and a very long mouth-watering finish. 

• Hospices Beaune wines: you can sample some of our best buys from previous auctions on our wine shop, such as the Pommard 1er Cru 'Dames de la Charite' with its rich purple color like a Roman emperor’s cloak... or the Beaune 1er Cru 'Cuvee Pierre Floquet' from one of the most prestigious acres of land in all of Burgundy, and one which will happily age for years. 

• Special mention...the Cromey Beaune 1er Cru Champimonts: We’re proud to announce our first Micro-Negociant Wine! With production at the Domaine de Cromey going from strength to strength following our first two vintages, we’re releasing a top Premier Cru wine from Beaune – the Beaune 1er Cru Champimonts 2022. Made by our friends at Domaine Ami who make the wine at Cromey, it’s a classic red Burgundy with pronounced black fruits, great acidity and balance (think suave, spicy and smoky) and finish with finesse and depth. We’ve recently bottled it and we’ll be shipping it to the US cellars of Burgundywine.com later this year! 

Coming November 2024 (and 2025!): The World’s Most Famous Wine Auction  

This year, the famous wine auction of the Hospices de Beaune will be held on Sunday, 17th November 2024. But there’s a difference this year... as the Southeby’s website explains, for the first time in the history of the Hospices de Beaune, the 2024 vintage will represent the successful conversion of its 60-hectare vineyard to organic farming. This reflects the institution's commitment to prioritize the relationship between health and the environment. With 51 different wines available for sale this year, there really is something to suit all tastes and budgets.   

Unfortunately we’re no longer taking booking at Cromey for the 2024 auction - but we are for the 2025 event! Taking part in this historic auction not only offers the opportunity to purchase exceptional Burgundy wines, but also allows you to support one of the world’s most historic charitable institutions. You get the chance to become part of the history and heritage of Burgundy itself! If you stay with us for a long weekend, we’ll attend the auction together and introduce you to its memorable festivities – all inclusive, and all exclusive as our guests. Together we’ll do tastings in cellars and vineyards, both with locals and the professionals... There’ll be street food to enjoy as well as what is on offer at Cromey courtesy of our incredible chef Ellie and our extensive kitchens and gardens. We’ll plan what we might buy on the Sunday of the auction and then on the big day we’ll attend the auction and bid on those all-important Hospices wines. Truly an experience that will be remembered for life.  

How to Buy Hospices Wine if You Can’t Attend the Auction 

Not visiting Beaune or the Domaine de Cromey soon? No problem - you can still buy some of this famous wine at the auction by getting involved in one of our consortia. We put together folks who are interested in buying Hospices wine. The wine is sold only by the barrel and so we put together groups of people interested in buying a share of a barrel. A share is 48 bottles. A typical consortium consists of 5 members, with a 6th share retained by burgundywine.com for its services in making all the arrangements, tasting the wines before the auction, attending the auction and arranging for the wine to be 'raised' over the following 15 to 18 months. Typically, we aim to buy a Premier Cru wine and have been very successful over the last 11 years, since we first started this program, in buying exceptional wines at affordable prices. We set a target hammer price to which we add the additional costs including Sothebys' fee, the barrel itself, raising the wine, bottling, labeling, and packaging. We arrange for one of our winemakers to raise the wine. We also take care of the wine's transportation to the winemaker, shipping the wine to our US cellars, and onward shipping the wine to you, which occurs approximately 15 months after the auction. You will be responsible for the US shipping cost, sales tax, and insurance. In return, you will receive 48 exceptional bottles delivered to your door. By the time of delivery, the value of the wine typically doubles. This experience truly stands out in the world of wine. For more information or to buy a share please follow this link.

If you are interested in participating in the Nuits Saint Georges auction in March next year, please contact us. 

We hope this article has given you all you need to know about visiting Beaune... You can read here about Our Barrel From the Hospices that we bought at a previous auction, plus why not plan a trip visiting the Clos de Vougeot – one of the best places to do wine tasting and see the history of Burgundy viticulture come to life? Finally, join our fabulous Burgundy Wine Club by following this link.