Francophile Development Trip

 The rest of our final day was spent learning about bio-dynamic winemaking from Sebastien's friend Dominque who run Saint Aubin vineyards. Bio-dynamic is almost a religious committment to winemaking that doesn't use pesticides and bases their harvesting decisions around the earth's natural rythms. I'm not sure about all of that, but I am sure of this man's winemaking skills. The wine was affordable and simply amazing. A visit to Saint Aubin was a highlight. We then finished the day and our last winery visit in Santenay as the beautiful Chateau de la Cree. This was an American-owned chateau that's goal was to bring Burgundy pinot to the US and American wine lovers to the best wine region in the world.                                                    

 Our last day was spectacular. We started the day watching wood barrel-making in action at a local Cooperage. The wood from the burgundy barrels has a huge role in the final processing and aging of wine. It was fascinating to watch this age-old craft take place before our eyes.                                                                                             

1) Moutarderie: We started the day taking a walking tour of the mustard factory in Beaune. It was pungent -- burned the nostrils. 2) Volnay: Potentially our most memorable time of the trip was with Sebastien's old friend, Didier Rossignol. Didier and his family have been working their plot of land for generations. Didier currently operates out of his basement, which contained a wine cellar that has been aging for decades. To top off our tasting, Didier opened up a bottle of '78 Pinot that was amazing.                                                  

Joseph Drouhin: We started Day 4 taking a tour of the ancient cellars under the city of Beaune. The Drouhin family is now on their 5th generation — and the family is full of history. In particular, Maurice Drouhin, the son of Joseph was intensely involved in the French resistance during the German occupation of France. Maurice alluded the Gestapo one night while they knocked on his door and he left through a “Freedom Door” and he was hidden by nuns of the Hospices de Beaune for 4 months until the occupation ended. Alise Sainte Rein: In the afternoon of Day 4 we ate lunch in a small village where Sebastien's mother lived. This was a super special day where we drank good wine and enjoyed stories of Sebastien's childhood.  Abbaye de Fontenay: We ended the day at a beautiful 12th century abbey that took all of us back to the middle ages. 

Vosne Romanee: We started the day with a walk through Vosne Romanee, the home of the most expensive wine in Burgundy - Romanee-Conti. Domaine Rion: One of the highlights of our trip to Vosne Romanee which held a fantastic tasting from Arnelle Rion. Arnelle met Bernard (a 5th-generation vigneron) - they quickly got married and now she runs the winery with Bernard. Chateau de Gilly: We then enjoyed a 3-hour lunch in Gilly-les-Citeaux at a beautiful chateau. We started with champagne on the patio and then we graduated into the dining room. This chateau was formerly a Benedictine Abbey. We tasted some amazing wine, ate poached eggs in wine sauce &  Burgundian Chicken. We ended the lunch learning how to sing the Burgundian cheer. Vougeot: One of the more interesting stops was the Clos de Vougeot, a plot of land that has over 85 owners across 50 hectacres. This plot of land was originally cleared by the Cistercian monks in the 12th Century. It has upper, middle, and lower versions. T...