Wine châteaus are abundant throughout many regions of France, as the production of fine wine is one of France's greatest success stories.  Most of these wine châteaus are devoted solely to the growing of grapes and turning them into wine,  and the public can only get a glimpse of château life by participating in wine tastings or attending events held on the estates.  However, we at au Château are fortunate to be able to count three wine-producing estates among our membership --  they not only grow and bottle their own wines, but operate luxurious chambres d'hôtes for those of us who know the best places to stay in France!  Our newest member with its own wine domaine is  Château de Chorey in Burgundy.

Château de Chorey is owned, occupied and operated by the Germain family, and over the generations it has grown into one of the most respected Burgundian wine estates, especially among the great chefs and restaurateurs of France.   The Château de Chorey label (pictured above) appears on no less than twelve distinct wines and a 25-year old Vieux Marc de Bourgogne served in many of France's best restaurants.  Some of the château's wines include vins rouges such as Beaune 1er cru Les Teurons, Château de Chorey les Beaune, Beaune 1er cru Sur Les Grèves, Beaune 1er cru Vignes Franches and Beaune 1er cru Les Cent Vignes, while the vins blancs include Meursault, Pernand Vergelesses Blanc and Bourgogne Château Germain. 

Views of Château de Chorey,  and the Wine Museum of Beaune
 

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Here is a partial list of highly regarded restaurants throughout France where you will find the fine wines of Château de Chorey. 

Not to be overlooked  --  the chambres d'hôtes at Château de Chorey.   M. Germain and his family have a long-standing reputation for greeting their guests warmly and providing them with every comfort in a refined yet relaxed atmosphere.  Simply decorated but clean and comfortable en suite rooms, a grand breakfast, wine tastings and assistance in planning your visits to the region all combine to ensure your stay at Château de Chorey is restful yet stimulating.   Due to its ideal location a few kilometers from Beaune, it is an easy drive (or perhaps a walk) into Beaune to avail yourself of the many fine restaurants for dinner in the evenings.  Beside the Wine Museum, Musée des Beaux Arts,  and Hôtel Dieu, Beaune has other attractions, especially for the wine aficionado.  Tastings are plentiful and something to do with wine is always taking place.  In November, of course, is the annual wine auction of the Hospice de Beaune, the world's largest and most publicized, attended by the great wine producers and wine lovers of the world, with many a celebrity to be seen.  It was once held in the Hôtel Dieu, but, although still sponsored by them, the space has become too small as attendance has grown. It is now held in the Beaune market hall. 

The Côte d'Or region is the heart of  Burgundy's wine production.  Drives along the wine route, or onto any of the roads branching away from the main highways, bring visitors to wine estates and tasting rooms at every turn.   And don't neglect the beautiful countryside to the west of Beaune, such as the town of Autun and le Parc Regional du Morvan where you can take the beautiful D978 to Château-Chinon and turn northward onto the equally lovely D944 (which becomes the D958) to the hilltop village of Vézelay steeped in history.