On Drinking Wine

I first became interested in wine during my travels to France.  It’s an easy thing to do in what I consider the world’s best wine country. My love affair with wine started with visits to wine cellars and vineyards in some of France’s best wine regions: Burgundy, the Rhône and of course, Bordeaux. By tasting, talking about wine with the growers themselves and enjoying panoramic drives through some of the most beautfiul French vineyards, I learned to not only love wine, but also respect the product.
Perhaps my fondest memory was driving through the vineyards of the Côte Chalonnaise on cold, damp mornings towards the end of February. Men and women were outside, braving the early frost and pruning the vines with care and love. I remember the smell of the burning branches and the sight of the bare, yet promising vines. It was so moving to realize how much time, work and energy goes into something that is there for nothing more than pure enjoyment.