The French Wine, Bread and Cheese Ritual: a Burgundy Guide

“Do you really eat bread, wine, and cheese every day?”

After spending 20 years as a wine educator in Burgundy at Sensation Vin, I have heard this question many times. Let me set the record straight: while we might not do it every single day, the ritual of "Pain, Vin, Fromage" is absolutely not a myth. It is the beating heart of our art de vivre—a timeless, simple, yet sophisticated pleasure that every wine lover must experience.

I still remember a few years ago when I prepared a massive 3-kilo cheese board, featuring a selection of Burgundy’s finest and other French regional cheeses, specifically to delight my Brazilian friends. Their reaction reminded me that what seems "normal" to us is actually a dream experience for many.

When you visit France and our beautiful Burgundy, I invite you to imitate us.

How to source like a local

To create an authentic moment, skip the supermarket. Instead, take a stroll through our village markets or visit specialty shops:

The bread

Visit a boulangerie for artisanal sourdough (pain au levain), whole wheat, or ancient grains like grand épeautre.    

The cheese

Go to a fromagerie. If you want to stay local to Burgundy, your basket must include: Epoisses, Soumaintrain, Cîteaux (still made by monks!), Délice de Pommard, Brillat-Savarin, Comté, and our delicate local goat cheeses.    

The wine

With 84 AOCs (such as Gevrey-Chambertin, Puligny-Montrachet, or Nuits-Saint-Georges) and nearly 3,500 producers, you are spoiled for choice. Visit a local caviste (wine shop) to find the perfect bottle.    

Forget the dining room: head to the vineyards

While you could enjoy your selection in your hotel room or Airbnb, my best advice is to take it directly to the source: the vines.

Established picnic spots

Many villages offer beautiful, ready-to-use areas. Here are three spots among many others for a comfortable and scenic lunch or dinner:

• L’Oratoire Notre-Dame de Bonne Espérance in Pernand-Vergelesses (for a heavenly view).
• Lulune in Pommard.
• Route de Chaux in Nuits-Saint-Georges (which offers a peaceful stop right at the edge of the forest and the vineyards).

The "insider" way: privacy and panoramas

As a French woman, nothing makes me happier than seeing a couple perched on a low stone wall—our famous Clos—toasting while contemplating the landscape.

If you have a little equipment, like folding chairs, the possibilities are endless. My personal secret? I always choose a spot toward the top of the slope (le haut du coteau), in a slightly secluded vineyard. I look for a natural screen, like a bush, between the road and my spot. This guarantees total peace: you can hear and see the world passing by, but no one suspects you are there. It’s just you, the silence, and a panoramic view of the world's most prestigious vines.

The great debate: red or white?

When it comes to pairing cheese and wine, there are two schools of thought:

1. The Traditionalists: Those who swear only by red wines.
2. The Modernists: A growing trend that highlights the incredible affinity between white wines and cheese

My advice? Try both and decide for yourself!

Master the basics before you go

Understanding the "why" behind the "what" makes the wine taste even better. With so many appellations and producers in Burgundy, it can feel overwhelming.

If you want to gain the confidence to choose your own bottles and understand the nuances of our terroir, I invite you to join one of my wine tasting classes. It is the perfect foundation to ensure your self-guided vineyard picnic is a true masterpiece.

Céline Dandelot Wine Expert & Educator