Spring: budburst and unhurried tastings
Choosing the best time to visit the Burgundy vineyards starts with knowing what you want to see. From April, the buds open and the first green leaves appear on the bare vines, a moment winemakers watch closely, because a late frost can still damage the young shoots. By May and June, the hillsides turn green, the vines flower and the countryside is at its freshest.
For visitors, spring is a wonderful compromise. The estates are past the busy winter work in the cellar and not yet in the summer rush, so the winemaker often has time to talk. The wines of the previous vintage are starting to show, and the days are long enough to combine a tasting, a walk up the rock of Solutré and a lunch on a terrace. Do keep an eye on public holidays, which are numerous in May in France and can affect opening hours.
Summer: long days and busy estates
Summer is the season of long evenings, village festivals and outdoor tables. The vines are in full leaf, the light on the vineyards is superb in the early morning and late afternoon, and the river towns are lively. It is also the busiest time for visitors, so tastings and restaurant tables should be booked well ahead, particularly in July.
Two practical points. Heat can be intense in the middle of the day, which argues for tastings in the morning and late afternoon, with a long, shaded lunch in between. And in August, some small family estates close for a week or two before the harvest, or receive only by appointment. A short message to check before you travel avoids a closed gate.
Summer is also the ideal season to pair wine with heritage. The cool naves of the abbeys of Cluny and Tournus, the museums of the Saône towns and the shaded lanes of the old villages are welcome on hot afternoons, and they fit naturally between a morning tasting and an evening on a terrace.
The harvest: late August and September
The harvest is the moment many visitors dream of. Its date is not fixed: it depends on the ripeness of the grapes and is set each year. In recent years it has often begun in late August, especially for the grapes destined for Crémant de Bourgogne, and carried on through September for still wines. Pickers fill the rows, tractors and trailers come and go, and the villages smell of crushed grapes.
It is a magnificent time to be here, with one caveat: the estates are at their busiest. Some suspend tastings, others receive visitors only briefly, and the winemaker may be in the vines all day. Booking is essential, and flexibility helps. In the Beaujolais, a pilgrimage climbs to the chapel at the top of Mont Brouilly every year on 8 September, often at the very start of the harvest, a lovely local tradition to witness if your dates allow.
Autumn: colours and the great November weekends
Once the harvest is over, the vineyards slowly turn gold and russet, and October is often one of the most beautiful months of the year, with soft light and quieter roads. The new wines are fermenting in the cellars, and winemakers, relieved that the grapes are safely in, are often in a generous mood.
November brings two major events. On the third Thursday of the month, Beaujolais Nouveau is released, celebrated in Beaujeu by the Sarmentelles festival and in countless villages and bistros. On the third Sunday, the Hospices de Beaune hold their famous charity wine sale, a tradition linked to the Hôtel-Dieu founded in 1443. The weekend, known as the Trois Glorieuses, fills Beaune with tastings and festivities. In 2026, these fall on 19 and 15 November respectively. Accommodation around Beaune is booked very early for that weekend.
Winter: Saint-Vincent and the season of cellars
Winter is the quietest season, and for some the most authentic. The vines are bare, pruning begins, and the work moves into the cellar. Tastings by the fire, unhurried conversations and empty roads make it an excellent time for wine lovers who want to understand rather than simply see. Some estates close between Christmas and New Year, so checking ahead is wise.
Saint Vincent, patron saint of winegrowers, is honoured in late January. The Saint-Vincent Tournante, held on the last weekend of January in a different Burgundy village each year, brings together the wine brotherhoods in procession, with tastings in decorated streets. It is announced in Volnay for the end of January 2027. Many villages of the Mâconnais and the Beaujolais also hold their own, smaller Saint-Vincent celebrations around the same date.
Practical advice whatever the season, and how we can help
A few rules apply all year round. Many family estates close on Sundays, and some over the lunch break, so plan tastings from Monday to Saturday. Most receive by appointment only: book a few days ahead out of season, and two or three weeks ahead in summer, at harvest time and in November. Restaurants in the villages often have short service hours, and arriving at half past two can mean the kitchen has closed.
Dress for the season, and for the cellar. Even in summer, underground cellars stay cool, and a light jacket is welcome during a long tasting. Flat, comfortable shoes are wiser than elegant ones on gravel courtyards and steep paths, and in winter, warm layers make tastings in unheated cellars far more pleasant. Finally, leave room in your luggage, or ask the estate whether it can ship your purchases home.
MCM Prestige, the bespoke range of Mon Chauffeur Mâconnais, takes care of all these details. Our teams build your days around the season, the opening hours and your tastes, and make the reservations in your name. Your chauffeur-host, Mathis, bilingual in French and English, drives, tells the story of the vineyards and translates during tastings, while a few stops stay a surprise until the day. Tastings and meals are paid on site, and the price per person is announced before any booking.
Frequently asked
When is the grape harvest in Burgundy?
It depends on the ripeness of the grapes each year. In recent years, it has often started in late August and continued through September. Exact dates are only known a few weeks in advance.
Are wine estates open during the harvest?
Many are, but with less time to spare: some suspend tastings, others welcome visitors briefly. Booking ahead and staying flexible are essential at this time of year.
Are Burgundy wineries open on Sundays?
Many family estates close on Sundays, and some over lunch. A few larger houses and cellars open at weekends, but it is safer to plan tastings from Monday to Saturday.
When is the Hospices de Beaune wine sale?
It takes place every year on the third Sunday of November, on 15 November in 2026. The whole weekend, known as the Trois Glorieuses, brings tastings and festivities to Beaune, so book accommodation early.
Is winter a good time to visit the vineyards?
Yes, for those who enjoy calm. The landscape is bare, but winemakers have more time, tastings are unhurried and the Saint-Vincent celebrations in late January are a highlight. Check closures around Christmas and New Year.
