Savoir Vivre Barge : Boutique Barge Company

Something we are seeing a lot more of recently is ploughing in the vineyards with ancient breeds of horses. Domaine Chandon in Savigny Lès Beaune have sold their tractors and now only use their four horses. Come and join us on the Savoir Vivre to find out more and meet these magnificent beasts.

Spring has sprung here in Burgundy and we have started the season with our first passengers!

As part of each cruise we visit the famed outdoor market in Dijon. There is time to look around the market and to explore the well-preserved Medieval old town. Plenty of opportunities to shop; think mustard! Then it's back to Savoir Vivre for lunch and an afternoon cruise through gorgeous scenery.

"Would it be possible to tailor the trip toward a more wine focus?"

We have a wide range of burgundy wines onboard which are served throughout the week. These are served with lunch and are available at all times. Simon, our tour guide, is very experienced in the local wine industry and previously worked for winemakers both in their tour programmes and as a sommelier. He is on board during the day to help passengers explore the wines we have.

On our tours, our programme includes visits to Burgundy vineyards and wine makers. Even our tour of the goat’s cheese farm is with a family who also produce their own wine which guests enjoy during the cheese tasting.

There is also wine with dinner. Captain Richard will es**rt you to your restaurant each evening and will assist with selecting wine for your meal.

In truth, when we have had private charters with wine focussed guests, we tend to revert to our normal tour programme because even they tend to get a little ‘wined-out’!

As part of each cruise, we pay a visit to Ferme de Poisset, an authentic cheese maker. Meet the goats, learn about the local cheeses and then taste! With some lovely wines too, of course.

Question: Can all the cabins have twin beds if desired?

The Savoir Vivre is not a conversion of an older commercial barge. Instead, she was constructed as a brand new ship. Our four cabins are identical and each can be set up as either one queen bed or two twin beds. So yes, you can have all twin beds, all queen beds or any combination of the two!

Meet Annie, our friend and wine tasting partner in Chambolle Musigny. She has a wealth of knowledge about Burgundy wines and even owns vines in the region herself. A born and bred Burgundian Annie will help you understand the intricacies of this complicated and exciting wine region!

"How do the tours fit into the week?"

Each day includes an excursion in our dedicated, air-conditioned Mercedes minivan to explore hidden gems of Burgundy. Simon, your local expert and private guide, has curated a program of tours and wine tastings for the week. Some days will be cruising in the morning and then a tour in the afternoon (wine tastings, for example, are always afternoon). Others are reversed, with a tour in the morning and afternoon cruise (Dijon market, for example).

Each evening we have a second excursion as we visit a different, carefully selected restaurant for dinner!

"This barge is EVERY BIT as beautiful as pictured. What is impossible to anticipate is the breezy and casual elegance of the public spaces and how well-designed the cabins and bathrooms are. For instance, there is plenty of storage space and the right lighting! This kind of attention to detail permeates the whole program." Ellen Sack, Barge Lady Cruises

"How easy is it to get on and off the boat to walk or cycle?"

One of the lovely things about cruising on the Savoir Vivre are the frequent opportunities to hop from the boat to the tow path alongside the canal to explore the surrounding countryside and villages by foot or by bike.

When underway there are frequent locks where you can simply step on/off the ship while the boat is stationary in the lock. You can walk or cycle along the towpath and we’ll meet you at the next lock! It is a safe and unhurried process.

When tied up, you can walk or cycle and explore local villages too. our unique V-Shaped hull means that we moor directly next to the canal side. As such, our gangway is the shortest of any barge.

So when it comes to fresh air and exercise, there are lots of options - be lazy or go crazy!

On the Savoir Vivre our lunches are freshly prepared and provided by a private chef who meets us along our route. We take advantage of the fact that, while we are a ship, we are not at sea. Our guests love this high-quality, personal style of lunch. It perfectly complements the setting with uncompromising quality.

Burgundy's charm runs deep. Its unassuming beauty tickles the soul. The quaintness of the villages, the elegance of the chateaux, its gastronomic restaurants and a quietly proud and modest way of life. These are the elements that grow on you with a cruise aboard the Savoir Vivre

Another of our evening restaurants, L’Oree du Bois is a very special French creperie. These authentic crepes offer a wide range of savory and sweet treats, each made with skill and attention using local ingredients.

With its vaulted ceiling, central fireplace, mezzanine dining level and fabulous food, L’Oree du Bois is a firm favourite of the Savoir Vivre. Also, a magnificent view point is just a minute's walk away!

"Before I traveled on the Savoir Vivre I saw a photo of the night time glow and thought it was enchanting. It was even better in person!" Savoir Vivre Guest

Located in the famous, gorgeous hilltop village of Châteauneuf-en-Auxois, another of our evening restaurant has recently been acquired by Chef Guillaume. If this name sounds familiar, it’s because he was the former chef of the Michelin starred restaurant at the Abbaye de la Bussière. His horizons continue to expand with the opening of La Table de Guillaume following his successful launch of L’Auberge de Guillaume, which we also visit!

The Burgundy region of France offers a voyage of discovery encompassing culture, architecture, history and natural beauty. Enjoy vineyard tours, explore ancient châteaux, browse authentic markets. Cycle along the towpaths next to your private moving boutique hotel.

One of our six evening dine ashore restaurants, Le Spuller is located in Sombernon, a village of approximately 800 residents nestled in the countryside equidistant from Dijon, Beaune and the Cote d’Or vineyards. The magnificent views offered by its hillside location are a perfect setting to dine at while afternoon turns to evening.

The food at Le Spuller is unashamedly simple - elegantly, authentically, and tastefully so. Our guests adore it: the combination of setting, quality of cuisine, and exceptionally friendly service hits all the marks.

Burgundy's wine heritage is amongst the most important and fascinating in the world. The monks of Clos de Vougeot developed and mastered the intricate and delicate process of wine making in the 12th Century. They learnt to harness the perfect surroundings they found themselves in for producing the finest wines in the world. Today the wine produced in the region remains world leading. Burgundy and winemaking are a marriage made in heaven.

One of our evening dining excursions, "Restaurant de la Porte Guillaume" at Hotel du Nord is located in the heart of Dijon. This venue serves up classical flavors of Burgundian cuisine with local flair!

A casual ambiance awaits patrons as they linger over rustic dishes such as butter-drizzled escargot, duck with mushroom soufflé, and of course, Boeuf Bourguignon. Cheese fiends will adore the after-dinner cheese menu with a dozen of the area’s artisanal selections, including the signature Epoisse.

"One of the highlights of my day is introducing people to the wines of Burgundy. These mythical wines famous throughout the world. This tiny wine making area produces such a small amount of beautiful wine. So introducing people to these names they may have seen on a wine bottle, showing them around these wine making villages and introducing them to the winemakers that lovingly make these wines is such a pleasure." Savoir Vivre Expert Guide

Another of our evening restaurants is "Le Bistrot des Moines" at Abbaye De La Bussiere. Founded in 1131 and transformed into a luxury Relais et Chateau hotel, the Abbaye de la Bussiere occupies a beguiling canal-side location. The grounds are resplendent with sculptured gardens and lake along with historical delights including an ancient church, crypt, cloister, refectory, farmhouse, dovecote, outhouses, wine press and monastic dwellings.

In the evenings, instead of dining on board the ship we explore some of the authentic french restaurants along our route. L'Auberge Gourmand's head chef Christophe learned his craft in such venues as Guy Savoy in Paris, Hotel Negresco in Nice and Restaurant Fredy Giradet in Switzerland. So his credentials speak volumes!

Welcome to the Savoir Vivre, where our luxurious and adventurous barge cruise awaits you. Our cruises offer up to eight passengers a chic, relaxed and engaging insight into rural french life, culture, gastronomy, wine making and history. If you are looking for a barge cruising experience with a difference, our cruises are just what you need.

We stumbled upon a professional wine tasting at the Clos de Vougeot. The outcome of this tasting decides which wines receive the prestigious Tastevinage label from the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin

Our intrepid passengers embarked on a culinary adventure last week to produce the finest Burgundy gougères. Each couple lovingly cooked this local speciality together to produce some fantastic results.

Brand new Pommard 1ère Cru Les Rugiens 2023. Pressed two days ago, in a few weeks the colour will be a deep red.

It's harvest time here in Beaune!! Things are looking great, quality and quantity are both putting smiles on everyone's faces. 2023 rocks!