There isn’t a better time to travel to Burgundy than the autumn. The famous French wine region—which produces the world’s most sought-after vintages—is colorful with fall foliage, and the region’s gastronomic restaurants feature harvest-fresh vegetables and local truffles.
After the grapes are picked, the picturesque town of Beaune pulls out all the stops with a merry festival called "Les Trois Glorieuses" (or "the three glorious days") centered around the renowned wine auction at the Hospices de Beaune. Parades fill the streets, food vendors set up fragrant stalls, Burgundy wines are poured in abundance, and Christie’s presents the charity wine auction, where barrels of wines from the Domaine des Hospices de Beaune are sold under the auspices of a celebrity host. This bacchanalia takes place from November 19- November 21, 2012. For more information, visit www.beaune-tourism.com.
Photo of the Hotel-Dieu, Hospices of Beaune by Mary W Nicklin