Burgundy and the Loire Valley – Villa – Belle Vie Discovery Retreat

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What’s included?
Guests are responsible for booking their own air travel, but once the official itinerary begins on Saturday we’ve got you covered.

All transport, accommodations, meals, wine and wine pairings, Chateau entry fees, and tips are included. If you wish to ship wine home, purchase wine or souvenirs to take home in your luggage, those are the only additional costs you’ll incur.

Friday

Option to arrive in Paris one day early. We recommend staying at the hotel from which we’ll depart Saturday morning. If arriving on Friday, April 16, you will need to book this hotel on your own, staying for one night:

Ibis Paris Bercy Village: 19 Place des Vins de France, 75012 Paris

The hotel is a 2.5-mile walk along the Seine to Notre Dame Cathedral, and also right across the street from a metro stop. For those who wish to have their day in Paris coordinated, for about $100 per person we can arrange a guided tour of the “highlights” of Paris. We’ll also book lunch at posh brasserie Loulou (in the courtyard of the Louvre) and dinner at the chic Monsieur Bleu (overlooking the Eiffel Tower). *Again, all expenses for the Friday before the official itinerary begins are at your own cost.*

Saturday (official itinerary begins today)

Depart from the Ibis Paris Bercy Village at 9 a.m. for the Loire Valley town of Amboise, where we’ll enjoy a wine tasting and lunch at Chateau de Montdomaine with charming winemakers Fred and Louisa Plou.

The lovely Louisa conducting a tasting of 11 (yes, ELEVEN!) Montdomaine wines!

After lunch, drive on to our private villa in Mailly-le-Chateau (between Vezelay and Chablis in Burgundy). The village is centered around the nearby Chateau de Mailly.

annex-from-the-street — Our private villa – lots of space and tranquility for meditation sessions and group fellowship.

One of the 8 suites in our private villa in Mailly-le-Chateau.

annex-bedroom — One of the 8 suites of our private villa in Mailly-le-Chateau.

Opening session with Jenni, then enjoy charcuterie and a light dinner at our villa this evening.

Sunday

Morning session and meditation with Jenni.

Drive into Chablis, where we’ll shop at the morning market before a relaxing lunch at Au Fil du Zinc.

After lunch, we’ll drive into Auxerre for free time to explore the city and pop into the beautiful cathedral.

Brendan Moore, an Englishman with strong ties to the area’s wine-producing community during his 30+ years living in France, joins us at our villa this evening. He’ll give us a primer on Burgundian wines and guide us through a tasting.

Casual dinner at our villa tonight.

Monday

Morning session and meditation with Jenni.

Drive to Puligny Montrachet, where we’ll enjoy a wine tasting with the always-enchanting wine producer Philippe Chavy before a traditional lunch of French cuisine (try the local Boeuf Bourguignon!) in the village at L’Estaminet des Meix.

fullsizeoutput_249e — Past trip participants enjoy a visit with the charming Philippe Chavy.

After lunch, we’ll visit the city center of Beaune, where you’ll have free time to explore the Hospices de Beaune, do some shopping, or enjoy a glass of wine or a cup of coffee at a café in the town square.

Tuesday

Morning meditation and session with Jenni.

Head out for the Loire Valley this morning for a wine tasting and lunch at the home of our friends and winemakers, Lynne & Philippe Raimbault in Sancerre.

e2285fe4-2518-4046-a606-38d70d44dfa7 — Enjoying aperitifs in the garden at Lynne & Philippe’s beautiful countryside home.

After lunch, we’ll stroll the winding streets of the hilltop village of Sancerre for some shopping and breathtaking views.

Casual dinner at our villa this evening.

Wednesday

Enjoy some culture and history today when we visit Vezelay, a hilltop village with a working monastery. Jenni will kick off with a walking meditation on the grounds of the abbey, then hear the hauntingly beautiful sounds of the nuns and monks singing during mass.

fullsizeoutput_1de9 — The stunning, light-filled Vezelay abbey, home to a relic of Mary Magdalene.

Enjoy lunch at Sy La Terrasse and free time to explore the village shops before we head back to our villa for some downtime.

This evening we’ll participate in a cooking demonstration with Chef Ollie Timberlake at our villa. Follow Ollie on Instagram (@andsomuchmore).

Thursday

Morning meditation with Jenni.

Brendan joins us again today to introduce us to some of his personal friends and wine producers in his home region of Chablis. We’ll experience a morning wine tasting at Domaine Seguinot in the village of Maligny, then a café lunch of Croques Monsieurs and salads at the local Chablis Bar.