Beaune to Couchey
“Le Bourgogne vous fait penser à des bêtises, le Bordeaux vous les fait dire, et le Champagne vous les fait faire..”
was in Beaune a year ago to meet my sister, Tess, and her friends, Sylvia and Victoria. While riding, the horizon was getting darker and then, a sudden downpour when I reached Gevrey-Chambertin and as I ran for cover, I ran intomtwo lovely women seeking cover in a building. We struck up a conversation, shared a ride to Vougeot, took detour rides and ended up together having a glass of wine and a good feeling with one another and opened an idea of doing something together, though we didn’ t know each other. s got us an idea, why not do something together next time around?
As summer approached, we toyed with the idea of reuniting. And so, here we were, exploring Burgundy together. Life unfolds in unexpected ways!
Arriving in Beaune brought back memories, but this time, we stayed together—a leap out of our comfort zones, as we barely knew each other.
On the way, we stopped in Meursault for a drink, taking in the different atmosphere. Detours led us to new places, and by the time we reached Beaune in the late afternoon, fatigue and a darkening sky convinced us to take it easy. With rain in the forecast, we followed the receptionist’s recommendation and dined at a restaurant across the street. The buffet, rich in French flavors, turned out to be a great choice. Traveling teaches flexibility.
The next morning was gloomy, with rain looming. At 10 AM, I knocked on Monique and Dominique’s door. Dominique answered, asking for help—Monique had tipped over while trying to place a heavy bag on her wheelchair. She lay on the floor, smiling. For her, every mishap is met with humor, and resilience is second nature. She manages her routine independently, starting at 7 AM and finishing by 10 AM. On our bike tour, we only stepped in when absolutely necessary—like on steep uphills where her wheels lost grip.
We began just outside Beaune, skipping the town center since I had explored it last year. Monique led us into the vineyards of Aloxe-Corton, a route I hadn’t taken before. Rain poured but conveniently stopped during our picnic. From Meuilley, we rode toward Reulle-Vergy, where remnants of the Tour de France 2024 remained—decorations intact, Allez! still painted on the road.
Finally, we arrived in Gevrey-Chambertin, where we had met the year before. Returning to the same spot, we found the charcuterie open, and Monique picked up something for her family in Couchey.
“Burgundy makes you think of silly things, Bordeaux makes you talk about them, and Champagne makes you do them.”
Brillat-Savarin’s quote plays on the idea that different wines influence people’s behavior in distinct ways:
Burgundy makes you think of silly things – Burgundy wines are often deep, complex, and thought-provoking, encouraging introspection or playful musings.
Bordeaux makes you talk about them – Bordeaux wines are known for their structure and elegance, often enjoyed in intellectual or social discussions.
Champagne makes you do them – Champagne, associated with celebration and festivity, tends to lower inhibitions, making people more likely to act on their impulses (sometimes in a carefree or mischievous way).