Day 2

Chagny — Santenay — Chassagne-Montrachet — Puligny Montrachet — Mersault —Volnay — Pommard — Beaune

Before hitting the road to Beaune, we went to Centre Ville of Chagny to get an inspirational pose right next Tour de France icons installed this year’s Tour de France. Before that, I ran into this guy who did thousands of miles and was about to wrap up his bike tour. What an inspiration to start the day, however being with Monique and Dominique is already an inspiration. How they put a lot effort to comes this way and meet me and do this bike tour together.

Our first stop of the day was Santenay

Santenay is a wine-producing village located in the Côte de Beaune region of Burgundy, France, known for its high-quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. This area produces red and white wines that are valued for their structure, balance, and subtle minerality. While not as famous as other Burgundy villages, Santenay wines offer excellent quality and often a more approachable price. Besides its wine, Santenay is also significant for its mineral water springs and scenic vineyard landscapes, making it a peaceful, lesser-known destination in the renowned Burgundy wine region.

When we got in Santenay, we scouted for a place to have an aperitif. The is where I came for a stop last year to just look around and pushed on. At this time, we decided to stop, for Dominique only had a cup of coffee early in the morning while Monique had her typical morning tea. Dominique ordered a cup of coffee while Monique and I had beer (blanche). While we were there, I suggested to go up the hill to check the architectural buildings up with glazed roofing. When we were about to reach the top, we saw signs of winery and opted to go in although we were not keen on having a wine tasting. It was too early to have one and be carried away. We decided to go to another village at the dead end of a hill — St. Jean. Then up here in this elevation, we looked down another village where there were having a harvest. We found out later that this was the last week of harvest.

Santenay, a village at the southern tip of the Côte de Beaune in Burgundy, France, holds a special place in the wine world, primarily for its red wines. It’s known for producing elegant, well-structured Pinot Noir with a reputation for minerality, spice, and an earthy quality that sets it apart from neighboring regions. The limestone-rich soils here contribute to a unique terroir, giving Santenay wines a mineral edge that appeals to Burgundy enthusiasts.

Although it produces some white wines from Chardonnay, about 90% of Santenay's output is red. The wines often require a few years to reach peak drinking age, developing complexity and softer tannins with age. Santenay doesn’t always get the same fame as Burgundy’s neighboring appellations, but its wines are admired for their consistent quality and relatively approachable prices compared to more famous Burgundy labels like those from Pommard or Volnay.

Beyond wine, Santenay has appeal as a destination for oenotourism. Known for its scenic vineyards, walking trails, and thermal baths, it draws visitors interested in both wine tasting and the broader experience of Burgundy’s wine culture.