30 July - Beaune

Drove into Aloxe-Corton to follow up Murray McHenry's recommendations to find Mischief and Mayhem winery is by appointment only! It appears it is the same for all the vineyards here in the Burgundy region. Spoke to Fiona (Scottish wife of Michael Ragg owner's of Mischief and Mayhem) who informed us of the latter. The workers all go on holidays next week for 3 weeks. Every town seem to be on holidays!

Called into Chateau de Corton Andres which had tastings of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. 

No coffee found in three small villages so headed back to Beaune for lunch. A big walk around the town, taking a few wrong turns to find the shops closing for their siesta. 

A good rest to catch up on this blog and emails before I visited the Hospice de Beaune then we went to the Patriarche winery which has the largest cellars in Burgundy (2 acres and 5kms of caved tunnels).

Went on a bar crawl, where we finally found some decent wine. People here eat around 1900 whereas in Paris no one eats before 2100. Yummy beef burgundy/ risotto for dinner then bed. 

Our drive to wineries. Vines as far as the eye can see. 

Chateau de Corton Andres - a winery offering tastings of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. 

The roof tiles are called "tuiles vernissees" = glazed coloured tiles. These are unique to the Burgundy region. This winery was built in 1927 and the cellars are 400 sq metres in size. 

Inside the Hospies de Beaune - this is a former almshouse founded in 1443 by Nicolas Rolin, Chancellor of Burgundy, as a hospital for the poor which remain as a hospital till late 1970 when it was turned into a museum. It consists of a pair of two story buildings arranged around a stoned courtyard. 

A charity wine auction has been held every year in Nov since 1851 which now helps to subsidise a more modern hospital elsewhere.

A huge room where the nuns tendered to the sick. 

Inside the Patriarche winery. 

Given these small metal tasting "cups" and left to our own devises to taste 4 whites (which were shocking) and 12 reds. Our favourite was Ruit-Saint-George's Premier de Cru 2008. 

There were other people on the tour too although looks like we has the place to ourselves?!

Some of the Beaune architecture. There were other people around?!

At one of the entrance gate to Beaune. 

Flowers seen everywhere in Beaune at crossroads and down alleyways. 

Our 1st bar crawl at "The Publican" with part of the moat that survived bombings from the war. 

At the 2nd bar crawl venue - "Les de Maurice" enjoying a Belenium beer. 

We returned to this bar where there was a flutist playing. A few drinks with the staff!

Just to show that French don't only love their escargots, cuisses de grenouilles and foie gras.

Found this little fellow at back down of a restaurant - assume waiting his turn.

Michael the tour guide checking our route for tomorrow. Our room was spacious and full of antiques.