When we go on vacation in Burgundy, we like to try the local produce, especially Burgundy wines. That’s why we’ve fallen in love with the Château de l’Épervière campsite ★★★★★ which organizes wine tastings in the vaulted cellar of its château. An opportunity to savor some of the region’s delicious nectars while taking a closer look at this majestic 15ᵉ century château.
Anyone who has never been to the Château de l’Épervière campsite will be seduced as soon as they arrive by its impressive 15ᵉ century castle. Admittedly, it’s not all that common to find such a monument in the heart of a campsite. Strictly speaking, there are no tours of the castle, but a large part of it is accessible to the public, since you walk through its entrance hall when you want to get from the campsite park to the restaurant terrace, and the pizzeria and restaurant are sheltered by its thick walls. Nevertheless, it’s sometimes frustrating not to be able to explore the building in greater depth. So, when the vaulted cellar was opened to the public for wine tastings, we jumped at the chance to enjoy local wines while discovering a part of the château we hadn’t had the chance to visit before.
Twice a week, the winemakers themselves come to the Château de l’Épervière cellar to present their wines for tasting. On the day of our visit, Domaine Dominique Martin was presenting its various crus. This domaine is located in Leynes, on the border between Burgundy and Beaujolais. It produces wines from both regions. Burgundy whites and Beaujolais reds. In both cases, the wines are single-varietal: Chardonnay for the Burgundy whites and Gamay for the Beaujolais. The tasting was as fascinating as it was delicious. We learned a lot about these grape varieties and the differences between Burgundy and Beaujolais. Above all, it gave us the chance to try them all, so that we could buy a case of our favorite wines. And let’s face it, the choice wasn’t easy. So we opted for a mix of Burgundy and Beaujolais wines to take home. The winemakers take it in turns to introduce themselves, so don’t expect to find Domaine Martin during your stay at Château de l’Épervière. But the campsite selects its partners carefully, so whatever the estate, you shouldn’t be disappointed. These tastings take place on Mondays and Thursdays.
In addition to tastings, the campsite has a selection of Burgundy wines for sale in its grocery store.
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