Hôtel de la Poste Najeti ★★★★

When it comes to visiting France, you’d be hard pushed to find yourself anywhere that doesn’t boast of some noble tradition of a viticultural nature… Yet if, like me, you are a particular fan of red wine, then the region of Burgundy really does just cry out to be visited. This gorgeous slice of rolling countryside located in the east of France includes not only the bustling city of Dijon, but a never-ending parade of crumbling abbeys and majestic châteaux, all equalling the pull of its exceptional wine produce. And where better to taste these reds than in the historic town of Beaune? This beautiful collection of cobbled streets and ancient buildings not only features some of the most stunning examples of typical Burgundy coloured roofs, but is host to the world-famous Hospices de Beaune wine auction, a fabulous annual event bringing together both expert oenologues (wine experts) and plain and simple fans of the grape.

Having surprised me with his plan of us attending the event with the kids safely stowed away at the grandparents for a week, my husband left it up to me and VeryChic to choose the hotel. On my first glimpse of the old post office building in the website pictures, I was sold, and the façade was even more impressive in real life! This hotel borders a pretty little cobbled square and has retained the authentic grand post office look, with a blend of the modern and old expertly combined once you step inside. From its delightfully elegant dining room (Le Relais – a little post joke for the Francophile in you) decked out in pastel taupe and ornately carved chairs, to the large rooms, all verging on a suite-size, each featuring a different décor and colour palette, this hotel creates a refined, quintessentially French feel.

Our room had a view over the little garden at the back of the hotel, instantly inviting us down for an aperitif before we went to dinner. Not able to wait one more minute before my oenological adventure could begin, I opted for a glass of Burgundy red specially recommended by the friendly and passionate sommelier, who even gave me pointers on the “three nose” smelling technique to get even more out of my glass. Before long, we were heading to Le Relais for a slap-up meal of traditional Burgundy dishes all accompanied by expertly-selected wine choices.

One thing the French do right is that they take their time over their wine. When we awoke the next day, we were as fresh as daisies thanks to our slow appreciation of this region’s nectar, and you can only imagine how much we were itching to discover this beautiful town. Beaune is dotted with ancient buildings dating back to the 15th Century, with the most famous example being the Hospice, an ancient hospital that wows with its colourful patterned tiled roof and ornate wooden archways. This is where the annual wine auction is held on a November weekend (the main reason for our visit), when the entire town is caught up in a whirlwind of street festivals, gourmet food tasting, and even a half-marathon, all on top of the prestigious charity auction and private dinners and wine tastings.

Between lounging around in our hotel garden and taking in the sights of Beaune, we didn’t even have time to go further afield in this fabulous region – a great excuse for us to come back again, and this time we’ll leave more space in our suitcases for more bottles!