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Burgundy, France
There’s nowhere in the world I’d rather spend
a long weekend than in the heart of Burgundy,
driving an open-topped car through rolling seas variously sized chunks of each vineyard. Whereas in
of immaculately coiffured vines in the quest for a the Bordeaux region 18,000 growers share 275,000
bargain bin-end to bring home. Be warned, though: acres of land, a whopping 30,000 Burgundy growers
it isn’t as straightforward as you might think… have to make do with a scant 112,500 acres. As a
The Côte d’Or, with Beaune at its heart, may be result, the Burgundy wine trade is a minefield of
split into four regions. To the north is the Côte de complexity. Straightforward, château-bottled wine is
Nuits, specialising in Pinot Noir-based reds. To the not the norm; about 70 per cent of the annual
south, the Côte de Beaune favours the production of Burgundy harvest is sold through merchants known
white wines from the Chardonnay grape. And to the as négociants. Ultimately, the grapes of absolutely
west of each area respectively, we fi nd the Hautes adjacent vines from one corner of just one vineyard
Côtes de Nuits and Hautes Côtes de Beaune. may well arrive at our tables under different labels, at
The French Revolution saw the break-up of the a different price, with an entirely different taste…
big baronial and ecclesiastical domaines into So the good news is that, as you strike out from a
numerous smaller holdings. This trend was later hotel within the ramparts of Beaune’s achingly pretty,
exaggerated by the practice of dividing inheritances. somniferous Old Town, extensive tasting before
Today dozens of growers and merchants own considered purchase has never been more justified.
Umbria Champagne
Where? Central Italy Where? North-east France
Why? Home to the celebrated Orvieto Abboccato Why? The origin of famous sparkling wines such
wine, praised by popes, princes and painters as Moët & Chandon’s Dom Pérignon
Visit? Some of the world’s most revered Visit? Ruinart, the world’s oldest commercially
architecture, not to mention pasta, in Assisi active champagne house, is a must
Go to?
umbriawinetours.com for information Go to?
reims-tourism.com or
ot-epernay.fr
WWW.RAC.CO.UK
22-25 Wine V3 RAC8.indd 23 25/2/09 12:54:19
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