Stores in Beaune: Which should you choose?
Wine merchants: the beating heart of the "Beaune store"
The word "wine merchant" takes on its full meaning in Beaune. Whether independent, heritage houses, or estate showrooms, these wine stores share three strengths: a refined selection, straightforward advice (vintages, styles, aging potential), and logistics designed with the traveler in mind.
How to choose your wine merchant in Beaune
- Specialty: Some stores focus on communal appellations (Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet), while others focus on the treasures of the Côte de Nuits (Gevrey, Vosne, Chambolle) as a complement.
- Philosophy: We combine "artisan winegrower" selections (organic, biodynamic, micro-plots) with "classic" ranges to create a reliable cellar (villages, premier crus, a few iconic grands crus).
- Services: tasting before purchase, shock-proof packaging, IATA flight-ready crates, international shipping, transport insurance, storage and service advice (temperature, decanting).
- Tip: If you’re just starting out, create a mixed basket—50% whites (Chardonnay carved on Côte de Beaune limestone), 40% reds (Pinot Noir from Pommard/Volnay/Savigny terroirs), 10% sparkling wines (Crémants). This will cover aperitifs, meals, and short/medium storage.
Delicatessens: The Other Side of the "Beaune Store"
Beaune’s delicatessens enhance your visit: whole-grain mustards, blackcurrant pulp vinegars, grapeseed oils, jarred snails, game terrines, Burgundy truffles (Tuber uncinatum) in the fall, rare salts and peppers, pear and gingerbread jams. These stores pay attention to traceability (local producers, short supply chains) and the aesthetics of their gift boxes.
What to put in a "100% Beaune" basket
- Burgundy mustard (PGI) for vinaigrettes and sauces.
- Gingerbread (in loaves or biscuits), perfect with foie gras or blue cheeses. -* Cassissium: blackcurrant derivatives (syrup, jam, cream) for Kir Bourguignon.
- Vacuum-packed oven-ready snails with garlic and parsley.
- Artisanal terrines and rillettes, ideal for a picnic in the vineyards.
Tip: Ask for a mini-sized assortment (90–120 g) to maximize your discoveries and optimize weight if you’re traveling by train or plane.
Cheesemakers & Charcutiers: Everyday "Shops of Taste"
It’s hard to leave Beaune without stopping by a cheese refiner. You’ll find Époisses, L’Affidélice, Charolais, Comté aged 24–36 months, farmhouse Morbier, seasonal blue cheeses, and goat’s cheeses. For charcuterie, think parsley ham, Pinot Noir sausages, pâtés en croûte, and freshly sliced white ham.
Express pairings with local wines
- Chardonnay (Meursault, Puligny, Chassagne) × Comté: walnuts & brown butter, perfect balance.
- Pinot Noir (Savigny, Beaune, Pommard) × parsley ham: freshness of the wine, parsley/garlic jelly that complements.
- Crémant × Époisses à point: bubbles that lighten the strength of the cheese, with a touch of gingerbread as a bonus.
Storage tip: Choose breathable cheese paper, avoid cling film. Transport in an insulated bag if you’re continuing on the road.
Chocolatiers, pastries & gingerbread: the sweet treats of Beaune’s shops
Between pralines, blackcurrant liqueur-flavored ganaches, orangettes, and "grands crus" chocolate bars, Beaune’s chocolate shops rely on carefully selected raw materials, often organic/fair trade. Pastries offer fruit tarts from nearby orchards and Marc de Bourgogne desserts (to be consumed sparingly). Gingerbread, soft or crunchy, can be used as a dessert, a snack, or as a savory crumble on foie gras.
Packaging: Choose rigid boxes and avoid thermal shock; if shipping, request the addition of a cooling gel pack.
Beaune Markets: The "Open-Air Store"
}
The market (Saturday mornings, and a smaller version on Wednesdays) displays seasonal fruits and vegetables, honey, cheeses, farm-raised poultry, flowers, and crafts. It’s the best way to experience local identity and talk about cooking, vintages, and recipes. Bring a tote bag and ask the producers for their wine pairings: they know the local wine merchants and will direct you to the wine that will enhance your chicken or cheese.
"Shopping" Itineraries for a Half Day or a Weekend
Express Tour (2–3 Hours)
}
- Wine Merchant: 2–3 Côte de Beaune wines, ready to travel (75 cl and 37.5 cl sizes).
- Cheese/Charcutier: Comté–Époisses–parsley ham trio. -* Fine foods: mustard + gingerbread + crème de cassis.
- Chocolatier: praline/blackcurrant gift box for the return trip.
Gourmet Tour (Weekend)
- Day 1: Visit to the Hospices de Beaune, grocery and cheese shopping,
- Day 2: Tasting at a wine merchant, strolling through the market, gift boxes, strolling through the nearby vineyards (Pommard/Volnay), and a final visit to the store to round things off.
Buying smart: vintages, budgets, and shipping
- Vintages: If your wine merchant offers several years, pair a ready-to-drink wine (3–5 years) with a wine for laying down (7–12 years) to smooth out the pleasure.
- Budgets: Burgundy has risen, but Beaune remains an excellent region for specific villages, serious lieux-dits, and still-accessible premier crus. Focus on style (crisp fruit, discreet oak, mineral tension) to avoid buying by label alone.
- Shipping: Choose certified cases (foam/thermos); By plane, check the liquid allowance and customs formalities if you are traveling outside the EU.
- Storage & Service: Ask for a service plan (temperatures, decanting, tasting windows) that the wine merchant can include with the invoice.
When to shop in Beaune?
- Spring–Summer: Generous markets, early red fruit, lively terraces.
- Autumn: Peak wine season (harvest, colors) and events; increased crowds, book accommodation and restaurants.
- Winter: Quiet period, good advice in store, availability of wine merchants; consider holiday gift boxes.
