Bordeaux/Burgundy: A Vintage Rivalry

About this book

Seeking to penetrate the mysteries of two great wine regions"two opposite civilizations two distinct ways of feeling"Jean-Robert Pitte embarks upon an evocative and fascinating exploration of the land people and wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy. His account is a rich tapestry of terroir history culture and economics from Roman to modern times. The unique qualities of the wines of each region Pitte believes cannot be entirely explained by the differences in their physical environments: they have social origins as well. Beginning with an entertaining look at the remarkable variety of insults exchanged by partisans of the two regions Pitte delves into the key role played by medieval monks dukes and peasant vignerons in building their respective reputations and in creating the rivalry between bourgeois Bordeaux and earthy Burgundy that we know today. His sparkling fair-minded narrative engaging the senses and the mind alike conveys a deep appreciation of two incomparable winegrowing cultures united despite their differences by a common ambition to produce the best wines in the world.