To Burgundy and Back Again: A Tale of Wine, France, and Brotherhood

by Roy Cloud

Overview

In To Burgundy and Back Again, Roy presents a richly evocative account of their journey—one replete with discovery, adventure, and poignant surprises. Written in the tradition of A Year in Provence and Sideways, this elegantly penned book will delight wine lovers and armchair travelers alike.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780762769186
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	06/01/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
File size:	385 KB

About the Author

Roy Cloud runs Vintage ’59, a boutique importer based in Washington, DC, specializing in French wines. Roy earned a degree in writing from New York University. He’s worked as a carpenter in California, and, once upon a time, he caught salmon in Alaska. This is his first book.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Providence 1

Chapter 2 Sancerre 12

Chapter 3 Avallon 37

Chapter 4 Burgundy 47

Chapter 5 Fire Barrels 55

Chapter 6 Godspeed 71

Chapter 7 Volnay 96

Chapter 8 The Bear 119

Chapter 9 Leprechauns 151

Chapter 10 Chemical Changes 158

Chapter 11 Beaujolais 173

Chapter 12 Sublime Prospects 178

Chapter 13 Provence 185

Epilogue 211

Acknowledgments 216

About the Author 217

Editorial Reviews

…[a] charming chronicle of [Cloud's] first foray to France as a buyer for a newly launched import business…
—The Washington Post

Christopher Schoppa

Savvy oenophiles may recognize the author as the proprietor of Vintage '59, a local wine import shop specializing in the best of the French vignerons. This charming chronicle of his first foray to France as a buyer for a newly launched import business finds an eager and trepidatious Cloud with a few tricks up his sleeve: an excellent palate and sound connections, thanks to his time employed at MacArthur Liquors and his older brother, Joe, who was living in France. Did we mention that Roy didn't speak any French? That's just one of the challenges in store for those willing to follow the Cloud brothers around the French countryside over 12 days that would forever alter their lives." —Christoper Schoppa, The Washington Post "Geography, history and viticulture lessons abound in this buoyant tale of brotherhood and Bordeaux. With New World vigor, debut author Cloud invites the reader into the intimate spaces of wine importing with one of the oldest schools in the book—the vignerons of France.. .. The book is rich in detail, knowledge and even a bit of wisdom, which. .. leaves the reader. .. craving another taste, but thrilled at the fortune of experiencing such a wonderful ride."—Kirkus Reviews "Cloud's account clips along with ease, including passages of lush, expressive language that shapes the idyllic beauty of the French countryside as well as the unending potential of a fine wine. Readers will relish his experience, and those who love wine will ache to tour the country themselves or, at the least, wander down the French wine aisle to unearth a great bottle of their own."—Booklist "the antidote to Sideways. .. Roy Cloud's gentle, heart-warming account of his French wine initiation is deliciously readable and full of insights." —Andrew Jefford, author of The New France

From the Publisher

Geography, history and viticulture lessons abound in this buoyant tale of brotherhood and Bordeaux.

With New World vigor, debut author Cloud invites the reader into the intimate spaces of wine importing with one of the oldest schools in the book—thevigneronsof France. Late in the fall of 1997, the inexperienced Cloud was entrusted with the task of generating a portfolio for a brand-new-wine importing company. With little more than a bad French accent, Cloud invited his brother along to act as translator, adventurer-in-arms and sometimes savior on his maiden voyage to Burgundy. What ensues is both heartfelt and passionate—"Wine is always life." Readers join the adventure in the brothers' shiny new Renault, barreling across the ancient French countryside that reveals "a rural way of life that had seemingly changed little since the days of Joan of Arc." With haunting clarity, readers are invited to taste the "pungent grapefruit" of Sauvignon Blanc in Sancerre and the "delicious silkiness...[that] lingered indelibly" from the Volnay Fremiets of Jean-Pierre Charlot. The book is rich in detail, knowledge and even a bit of wisdom, which, upon conclusion, leaves the reader with the same resignation they might have at the finish of an amazing 1982 Bordeaux—craving another taste, but thrilled at the fortune of experiencing such a wonderful ride.

A deliciously grand romp for any oenophile.

Kirkus Reviews