If there’s someone you can trust to build a luxury accommodation unlike any other, it’s David Fink. As the founder and CEO of the Mirabel Hotel & Restaurant Group, Fink has spent more than three decades building stellar resorts and restaurants, including L’Auberge Carmel in California, and now is doing it all again.
This time, in his favourite wine region — Burgundy, France.
All about the upcoming luxury boutique hotel in France
On Friday, Fink announced he’s adding Maison 1896 to his portfolio when it opens in Beaune in the summer of 2023. The project is in partnership with the famed Burgundian wine family, Maison Joseph Drouhin, who will help restore the historic 1896 building into a luxury 16-room boutique hotel and restaurant located in the ancient village’s historic centre.
“Through his frequent travels to Burgundy, David has known my family for more than 30 years and has developed a close relationship with us,” Frederic Drouhin, the president of Maison Joseph Drouhin, shared in a statement provided to Travel + Leisure. “When David came to us with the idea to restore this beautiful old building that we own in the centre of Beaune and convert it into a luxury hotel and restaurant, I immediately got on board.”
Related Stories
The hotel’s exteriors have all been fully restored and feature local limestone and burgundy stone, alongside new windows and open-louvre shutters restored to their original light green shade. The interior is expected to house 14 guestrooms and two suites within a three-storey building, with Fink’s partner and seasoned hotelier Janet Elarmo hand-selecting all interior design elements and helping to craft the ambience of Maison 1896. Each room will be bespoke and filled with locally curated items and come with oversized bathrooms with Victorian & Albert Rivello freestanding bathtubs, double sinks, and separate showers. Guests can also expect artful stairways outside their rooms, stained glass, and an original private terrace to soak in the sun and breathe the fresh air too.
And, because this new property is coming from Fink, a noted restaurateur, guests can expect a stellar dining experience, too.
The restaurant and bars will be the focal point of the hotel and will include several distinct places to dine. The star of the show, however, will be the hotel’s glass-covered atrium in the courtyard, with radiant-heated French limestone flooring, which will offer year-round outdoor dining.
All food and beverage throughout the hotel will be prepared by The Slanted Door, Beaune, originally opened by famed San Francisco chef Charles Phan in 1995. The focus and goal here will be the same as his original space — to elevate Vietnamese cuisine by utilising sustainable local ingredients.
“My goal was always to elevate Vietnamese cooking, focusing on local farmers and their ingredients,” Phan shared. “I have always loved the wines of Burgundy, and David and I have been longtime friends. When he told me about his new project in France, I knew it was another step for me to grow, focus on the beautiful local ingredients surrounding Beaune, and bring a special, unique experience to this incredible destination.”
Phan is also partnering with Mark Bright, the co-founder, winemaker, and wine director of San Francisco’s Saison Hospitality, who will head the property’s wine program and is set to serve the best selection of Burgundy wines in Beaune. And though Burgundy wines will be the majority of the selections, Bright will also feature new vintages and cellar selections from select domains and producers in the Cote du Rhône, Champagne, and wines from throughout Europe.
“David and I have a mutual love for the Burgundy region, as we have many mutual friends there, and we are both amateur winemakers,” Bright said, adding, “Bringing this fantastic new concept to Beaune feels like the actualisation of a life-long passion in partnership with cherished friends.”
Follow along with the hotel’s progress, and be among the first to get booking information here.
This story first appeared on www.travelandleisure.com
Main and Feature Image Credit: Courtesy of Maison 1896
Related: 7 Best Wine Hotels In France To Book On Your Next Vacation
Written By
