Camping La Grappe d'Or is like an island in a sea of vineyards. On one side of the campsite there’s a clutch of houses, a hotel and a pair of tennis courts but, beyond that, the local villages of Meursault and Monthelie are connected via roads that feel like causeways through an ocean of vines. From your tent, peep over the sheltering hedgerows and the first thing you will almost always see is a vineyard. Rows upon rows of streaky green lines stripe away into the distance.
Yes, this is the heart of the Burgundy wine region and, if you like to taste the local tipple as you camp, you’ve come to the right place. It feels like every other house you pass has a placard outside, naming it one winery or another. In fact, within a mile of the campsite there are, technically, over 15 different wineries, though many are small-scale business affairs and not the sort of place open for tours.
The campsite itself is well organised and well equipped. Three different wash-blocks service the hundred-odd pitches, and different tiers and hedgerows break up the space so that it doesn’t feel sprawling or overcrowded. The folks at reception are warm and helpful – make sure you order bread and croissants for the regular morning delivery – and there’s an outdoor swimming pool. There’s even a waterslide for kids and a decent restaurant at the top of the campsite with good views of the surrounding stripes.
Despite the vineyards, which you might picture to be on steep slopes, the surrounding valley is actually relatively shallow and flat, with wooded hills in the distance. As a result, the local area is handy for family cycling and bikes are available to rent. One such route passes directly beside the campsite, though heading off on foot is just as achievable. With a wealth of good restaurants (usually linked with a vineyard) in Meursault, you can walk just 10 minutes from the campsite and find somewhere tempting to stop for a break. Then another, then another. You could be eating and drinking all day.
