I’m English and first came to Burgundy 14 years ago to learn French. Little did I guess that I’d find a French husband here too! Before getting married I went back to university in England, then worked for a United Nations program in Paris.  We now live in a small village just outside Beaune with our two young children. 

My other travels have included Spain, Portugal, Italy, Malta, Ireland, US, Peru, Brazil, Martinique, Tunisia and Zanzibar. My favorites would be France (of course!), Brazil and Zanzibar.

We heard about Hosted Villas through a good family friend, and though I haven’t been a Local Host for long, it’s turning out to be a real pleasure. I love meeting new people and being able to make a positive difference to their holiday, sharing the hidden secrets of our region.  

A favorite day’s program that I recommend to our guests is the kind of thing I love doing myself: starting the day at a nearby café for a croissant and a chocolat chaud, then off to the market to select some local goodies. Then off on a bike ride along the Route des Grands Crus, stopping off for some wine tastings in the renowned vineyards along the way. When appetite beckons, it's fun to find a secluded spot for a picnic and relish the wonderful produce bought from the market. After a suitable pause – or snooze even! – I'd make the leisurely ride back to Beaune, and then go for a guided visit around the famous Hospice de Beaune. The evening would start with a cooling apéritif on one of the many terrasses in town, then on to a favorite restaurant – there are so many to choose from, you could try a different one every day for a couple of weeks at least! And as for working your way through the wine list, that could take many more weeks...

Of course Burgundy has been famous for centuries for its wines, even since the time of the Romans. Because of this, it became so wealthy that for a long time it was almost a separate kingdom, so there is a rich historical past to discover as well as fabulous countryside to explore. The area is particularly good for biking as there are endless miles of reasonably level roads along the valley and the gently sloping hillsides, which provide the ideal terroir for the vines. 

For the wine buff it’s an amazing experience – even the signs on the local roads read like a three-star wine list! Of course since my husband is involved in the wine business we are always delighted to arrange specialist visits and to explain some of the finer points of this ancient art.