Domaine Drouhin-Laroze

[This relates to a visit in August For the second time we wrote and asked whether their occasional lunch was possible the day of our visit, and it was. As before we were pleasantly greeted, with a most agreeable lunch, accompanied of course by...the domaine's wines. A excellent experience. Visitors should enquire in advance of course, as the dining is not available every day as we understand it.

We were friends at wine trip to Bourgogne and had the change to combine a visit to a Domain for wine tasting and have our lunch at same time. The restaurant is located on top of the cellars directly to their small private fenced...wineyard with few meters to the vines. In summer days they can open the front and it is wide open directly to the vines. Very impressive. Christine (owner of Drouhin Laroze) (Quite sure that it was her name) met us in front of the domain. She was extremely nice and open and explained us everything about the domain. She personally made and served courses that fits the wines perfectly. Only sad thing is that my friends bought the last bottles of Musigny before I had the change : . I can only give the Domain my best recommendations

Back in September, my wife and I, and a friend who was traveling with us, had a lovely lunch at this establishment. As has been noted, you have to arrange this in advance. The food--beef burgundy--was very nicely done and we thoroughly enjoyed the half-bottles...of the domaine's Gevrey Chambertin Clos de Bèze and Bonnes Mares that we bought to accompany our meal.

When we contacted the Domaine by email to arrange a visit and tasting, we found that they were not open for visits. However, they kindly invited us to join them for a lunch. This turned out to be lovely, sitting on an enclosed terrace beside...a vineyard (there was also a table outside). There was a set menu for a fixed price, not including wine. Naturally, there was an excellent selection of wines available too. The welcome from Christine was so friendly and it was clear that she is very fluent in English. This was a definite highlight of our holiday.

A winery offering the possibilty to dine, more than a restaurant at a winery, Drouhin-Laroze gives you an opportunity to taste, to learn, and to indulge in something distinctly Burgundy. Seatings next to vineyard, regional food made and served by the winemaker family (Christine Drouhin...and her daugther Caroline), accompanied by some of the best wines (their own) there is it is hard to ask for more. As work in the vineyards and cellar is top priority, Drouhin-Laroze does not operate like a regular restaurant. One needs to call/write ahead and, given availability, book a table. Booking a table and a winery tour, and you score twice. It is definetely worth a try. Mostly famous for its wine, Burgundy is definitely a food AND wine region, where the gastronomic tradition is almost as long-established as that of its red and white wines. And there are few better places in the area to experience this than in the company of Christine and her family.