15 Burgundy Wines Chateau Pommard, Chablis Small-Group

Three tastings make this a fast, useful introduction to Burgundy: you sample Chablis in the north, then compare it with wines from around Château de Pommard near Beaune. The day is built around 15 wines across three domaines, including Premier Cru and Grand Cru examples.

I like two things about the plan: the tastings explain how place and classification shape a wine, and the small group travels in a Mercedes with hotel pickup. You also get time in Chablis village, rather than spending every stop inside a tasting room.

The trade-off is the mileage. This is a long day with several hours of driving, and the listed schedule has overlapping times for lunch, the second tasting, and the transfer south. Confirm the day’s exact timing before you book.

The day’s key details

• Three stops, five wines each: Taste 15 wines at Jean-Marc Brocard, another Chablis producer, and Château de Pommard.
• Chablis gets two distinct tastings: Compare Petit Chablis, Chablis, Premier Cru, and Grand Cru across the two northern visits.
• A cheese plate is included at Jean-Marc Brocard: It accompanies the first five-wine tasting.
• Château de Pommard provides the regional contrast: A sommelier introduces Burgundy’s grape varieties, subregions, terroir, and wine classifications.
• Expect a full day in the car: The route covers Paris, Chablis, and the Beaune area, with rest-area stops on the drive to and from Paris.
• Lunch is your expense: You have free time in Chablis village and can choose a restaurant, but food and drinks are not included.

From Paris to Chablis before the day warms up

The first leg starts early. Pickup is at your hotel entrance or Airbnb address, then the drive to Chablis covers about 190 kilometers and takes roughly two and a half hours by highway. A rest-area stop is planned, which matters on a trip that spends much of the day on the road.

The pickup time needs checking. The schedule gives 07:00 as the departure from Paris, while the pickup information says 07:30. Those times do not match, so confirm your exact collection time with Clewel Travel rather than guessing. The stated total duration is 810 minutes, or 13.5 hours, while the day’s schedule runs from early morning to about 21:00. Treat the return time as an estimate.

The vehicle is a Mercedes E220 or E300, or a Mercedes minivan depending on the group size. With no more than seven participants, this is a more personal setup than a large coach, and the comfortable ride matters on a route with long highway stretches. The English-speaking driver handles the transport; the winery staff and sommelier provide the wine explanations at the stops.

First tasting: Jean-Marc Brocard and Chablis classifications

The first visit is at Jean-Marc Brocard, a domaine surrounded by vineyards in the Chablis area. You get a guided cellar visit and five wines with a cheese plate. The tasting includes Chablis, Chablis Premier Cru, and Chablis Grand Cru, with staff explaining how the wines are made and what distinguishes the classification levels.

This is a helpful place to start because you can taste the labels side by side while the winemaking process is still fresh in your mind. Chablis is made from Chardonnay, but the point of this tasting is not simply to identify the grape. It is to notice how wines from different classified sites can show different character, and how the local hierarchy gives you a way to read a bottle label.

The cheese plate adds a practical touch, though it is not a substitute for lunch. If you are especially interested in cellar methods or vineyard distinctions, this first stop gives you a structured introduction before you visit the second Chablis producer. The visit is scheduled for about 75 minutes, so expect a focused tasting rather than an unhurried winery afternoon.

Jean-Marc Brocard is closed on Sundays. Sunday trips use other Chablis domaines instead, and the day may include the local food market. That is a worthwhile change of pace, but the exact Sunday winery visit differs, so check which domaine is planned for your date.

A pause in Chablis village, then another tasting

After the first tasting, you have free time in Chablis village for lunch or a look around. You can arrange a gastronomic lunch through the tour, or choose your own meal; either way, you pay the restaurant directly. Meals and drinks are not included in the tour price.

This break is useful after an early start, but it is also the day’s main unscheduled window. If you want a particular restaurant, ask in advance whether a reservation can be made and how much time you will have. The schedule describes the break as lasting from noon to 13:30, then places the second tasting from 13:30 to 14:30. That leaves no clear travel time between the village and the winery, so confirm the actual sequence and lunch duration before departure.

The second Chablis tasting takes place at Domaine Céline et Frédéric Gueguen or at Baptiste. You taste five more wines, spanning Petit Chablis, Chablis, Premier Cru, and Grand Cru. This second visit broadens the comparison: the tasting is not only about one producer’s cellar, but also about seeing how another domaine presents the area’s wines.

Two Chablis tastings in one day may sound repetitive if you only want a quick sip and a scenic drive. For a wine-focused visitor, though, the comparison is the point. You can notice differences in selection and presentation while learning the same classification vocabulary from two producers. The guide information does not specify which of the two domaines you will visit, so if one matters to you, ask before booking.

South to Château de Pommard

From Chablis, the route continues about 135 kilometers toward Château de Pommard, near Beaune. The drive is listed at around an hour and a half. It is another substantial transfer, but it also shifts the day from the northern Chablis appellations to Burgundy’s celebrated Côte d’Or wine country.

At Château de Pommard, the tasting covers five wines from Château de Pommard and Famille Carabello-Baum’s La Route des Grands Crus selection. A professional sommelier leads the session and explains how Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vary across Burgundy’s villages and terroirs. The discussion covers the region’s five subregions, the famous wine road, natural influences on flavor, and Burgundy’s classification system.

This final tasting gives the day its broadest view. Chablis is a useful lesson in one northern wine area; the Pommard session places Burgundy’s wines in a wider regional frame. You are not just tasting a succession of glasses. You are asked to connect what is in them with geography, grape, and classification.

The listed tasting includes Premier Cru and Grand Cru wines. That can make the stop especially appealing if you are curious about the upper tiers of Burgundy, where names and classifications can feel daunting on a wine list. A guided explanation helps you understand what the labels tell you, though a single day can only introduce a complicated region.

The return journey and the real cost of a long day

The drive back to Paris is about 312 kilometers and takes roughly three and a half to four hours, with another rest-area stop. The planned arrival is around 21:00. Add the early pickup, three tastings, lunch, and two long transfers, and you have a demanding day. It suits someone who wants a concentrated wine tour more than someone hoping for a relaxed countryside escape.

At $501 per person, this is a significant spend. The value depends on what you would otherwise arrange yourself. The price includes private-style Mercedes transport in a group capped at seven, hotel or Airbnb pickup and drop-off, three guided tastings totaling 15 wines, the Jean-Marc Brocard cheese plate, bottled water, and fees and taxes. You avoid organizing the long drive, winery appointments, and route between two wine areas.

Lunch, other drinks, souvenirs, and gratuities are extra. You should budget for a meal in Chablis and any bottles you decide to buy. If you are mainly seeking a scenic day trip with only one casual tasting, the price and mileage may feel like too much. If the goal is to compare Chablis classifications and Burgundy wines with an expert introduction, the included tastings and transport make the cost easier to justify.

The two available booking features add flexibility: you can reserve now and pay later, and cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Those terms are useful when planning ahead, but they do not solve the schedule uncertainty. Confirm the pickup time, Sunday plan, and sequence of the midday stops before you commit.

Who will get the most from this tasting day

I would choose this tour if you are keen to learn how Burgundy works as a wine region and want more than a single winery visit. It is particularly suited to wine drinkers who want a guided comparison of Petit Chablis through Grand Cru, followed by a broader look at Burgundy’s Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

The small group and Mercedes transport are strong practical advantages, especially if you do not want to drive after tasting. The day also suits a first visit to Burgundy when your time is limited and you want a sampler of two distinct areas. The downside is that the schedule is packed, and most of the countryside experience comes through the windows between stops.

Wear comfortable shoes and clothes for the winery visits and day on the road. Food is not allowed in the vehicle, and alcohol or drugs are prohibited. The experience is not suitable for children under six or wheelchair users. If you are sensitive to long drives, want a leisurely lunch, or prefer time to wander vineyards at your own pace, a shorter local tour may suit you better.

Should you book this Burgundy wine tour?

Book it if three tastings, Premier Cru and Grand Cru comparisons, and a guided regional explanation matter more to you than a slow, spacious day. The strongest points are the range of wines, the contrast between Chablis and the Beaune area, and the small-group Mercedes transport.

Skip it if you dislike long highway drives or would rather spend a full day in one wine district. Before booking, get clarity on the conflicting pickup times and the midday schedule, and check what changes on a Sunday. With those details settled, this is a substantial but well-targeted way to sample Burgundy in a single day from Paris.

FAQ

How many wines are included?

The tour includes 15 wines in total, with five wines at each of three tastings.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included at your hotel entrance or Airbnb address.

What vehicle is used?

Transport is in a Mercedes E220 or E300, or a Mercedes minivan depending on the number of participants.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Meals and drinks are not included. You have free time in Chablis village, and you pay the restaurant directly.

Is the cheese plate included?

Yes. A cheese plate is included with the five-wine tasting at Jean-Marc Brocard.

What happens on Sunday?

Jean-Marc Brocard is closed on Sundays, so the tour visits different Chablis domaines. A local food market visit is also offered as a Sunday option.

Is the tour suitable for young children or wheelchair users?

It is not suitable for children under six or for wheelchair users.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.