Vineyards, Villages and Vintages: Domaine de Cromey in Burgundy

For oenophiles who love the wines of Burgundy — pinot noir, Chablis, Pommard, Chardonnay — a week at Domaine de Cromey is one during which you will not want to sleep. The immersion into viticulture will have you eating, drinking, reading and craving more knowledge from the expert guides who are also your hosts for the week.

This all-inclusive luxury experience is curated by Dennis Sherman and Ellie Garvin, who have made Burgundy their home and the local winemakers their friends.

Our days began with breakfast in the Pressoir Room of this 17th-century baronial manor. The exceptional spread included fruits and cheeses and breads and croissants (I had a chocolate croissant every morning!) and there was also a daily special. We were treated to scrambled eggs with shaved truffles, omelettes and roasted mushrooms with eggs, to name a few.

We spent our days touring the Cote d’Or, from Beaune to Dijon. We walked among the vines as we drank the wines their fruit became. We visited markets and brought cheeses, escargot, pickled garlic and endless slabs of pâté back to Chef. We toured the famous Hospices de Beaune and saw them preparing for the November 2024 auction. Yes, you will want to buy some of that wine once you return home. Luckily, Dennis is always there buying! And yes, I did. We were also lucky enough to see the home of the Chevaliers du Tastevin: Clos de Vougeot.

Lunch was either at the domaine or in town. Wherever it was, the wines were thoughtfully paired with each course. The buffet at home offered five to seven dishes, most of which were much-appreciated vegetables.

Evenings, after a dip in the pool or a wine-induced nap, brought lessons in the library, pre-dinner tastings and hours-long, four-course feasts prepared by Chef — with wine pairings, of course. We enjoyed beef bourguignon, magret de canard, filet de truite, grilled scallops and lamb (three ways) among other delicious courses. There was always cheese. And always wine.

If you are in a wine club or supper club, this is a great vacation for your group. A unique, all-inclusive, luxurious culinary experience. Wrap it inside of two weekends in Paris, and you may start thinking about moving to France!

Dennis and Ellie designed Domaine de Cromey to be enjoyed by a group of friends or family. There are six rooms that accommodate 12 at the most. If you book the domaine for a private week, you can work with them to design your week. The region is quite popular with cyclists, so if you would like to do some of your touring by bike, that can be arranged. The property has walking trails and a pool, and it can truly make for a spectacular, luxurious week, even if someone in the group prefers to drink beer!

However, if you can’t pull together a group of 12, they have Mix and Meet weeks where you can rent a smaller number of rooms and enjoy the touring and meals with new friends.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our France page.