Mary & Peter's 2013 Trip to Europe: Wine Tasting in Burgandy (Bourgogne)

This morning we went on a 2.5 hr wine tour with a couple from Japan (who had travelled for 12 hrs to spend 4 days in France & then home again!). Our tour took in the south region of the Côte-d'Or which is famous for its Pinot noir and Chardonnay wines. Unlike Bordeaux, which is similar to Australian wine regions having their cellar doors at the vineyard, Burgandy vineyards totally surround the villages while the cellar door is part of the owner's home. I fact, during WWII, burgundy was occupied and a lot of wine was saved from the Germans , hidden in their caves. Resistance fighters were also hidden in these cellars (caves).

Burgandy has 13,500 acres of vines (compared to Bordeaux's 235,000 acres. The average estate size is about 18 acres — enough to produce about 2,500 cases of wine each year. These estates are often owned by a number of partners, spit in tiny parcels of vineyards scattered around different villages.

The different shades of colour of vines below represent different vineyards. The vineyards on the left produce 'Grand cruz' wine - the best of the best while on the right side of the ride, 'Premier Cruz' (next step down) is produced The rock wall was built by Monks in the 1300's.

We had a tasting at Clos Bellefond winery, the cellar for which was under their home, which was 300 yrs old, owned by 7th generation. As a lot of you will know, I like to have something to eat with my wine. I had a packet of peanuts in my bag & had a handful when Peter politely asked if it was OK to eat nuts with the tasting. "NO!" was the stern and immediate response- it disturbs the tasting! So I casually opened my hand and let the peanuts drop into my bag. she was none the wiser. We bought a bottle of Premier Cruz Pinot Noir which a little old man in slippers retrieved from the warehouse. Very sweet.