Big Wine Adventure 2009

It's happening again!

My work contract expires at the end of September and I'm planning on hitting the road and recreating this bad boy.

Last year went down a storm with me and the Notorious AFDS stumbling across some real gems and filling the boot with some of Frances finest small scale productions. Champagne, the L'Oire and Burgundy are the main targets this time around with Champagne being my main focus.

Currently in touch with a few of the chaps regarding vine picking and it seems like a goer; work all day, get paid in vino/bubbly, wake up and hit the road to the next spot afer sleeping out under the stars.

Anyone game for some of this action? Moustaches are compulsory as is the Merle Haggard x Willy Nelson x Toby Keith mixtape. I've also got a couple of walkie talkies that are gagging for Smokey and the Bandit style action, hard copy out!

That sound like a wicked plan! Getting paid in wine. Report back.

Grape picking is proper hard work - dont underestimate it....

Was down in Burgundy earlier this month - mostly around Cote de Beaune / Challonais region.
Great rolling hills with mostly pretty good roads.

We camped in Nolay - nice campsite with Apple/pear/cherry trees :)
The campsite at Mersault is also good along with the one at Chamboeuf (Cote de Nuits)

Might be worth checking out the Voie Vert routes round there too - tarmacced bike paths between a lot of the villages

Would recommend checking out the Domain Colin (!!!) Morgeot Chassagne Montrachet reds - VERY good and very reasonable (for Premier Cru Burgundy) reds. Its actually a Sub-appelation of Chassange-Montrachet Premier Cru so is about the size of a postage stamp :)

I'm fully expecting to break my back with the grape picking, it'll only be the odd day but I'm looking forward to it.

Cheers for the heads up re: the wines, always keen to check new places.

Hi Fella,

Vaguely my area of expertise.

I'd avoid Champagne, it's not especially attractive and you'll be amazed how mechanised much of the harvesting and production is.

Much better Burgundy, with emphasis on the Cote de Beaune or the Macon to the south, much more beautiful scenery, much more interesting viticulture and food and handy for the Rhone if you fancy carrying on south.

You'll be amazed at how ramshackle some of the producers look given that they can be making some of the rarest and most expensive wines in the road. Quite usual to see everything in the cellars coated in a thick layer of fluffy black mould.

Beaune itself is a v.pretty medieval town and great for a central exploration point. Dijon, to the north is bigger and a bit more lively but a decent drive to the great white wine vineyards in the south end (probably the most pretty bit).

Anticipate putting on a few pounds if you eat out a lot. Burgundy is home to some of the best (and heaviest) food in France....

Cheers,
J.

report back chuggy.
sounds orse.

I can think of worse things to do

I'm somewhat jealous