Customer Reviews

Touring In Wine Country: Burgundy

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I am a professional in the field of wine and food consulting and a former staffer of Cuisine magazine, in New York. After reading through "Touring in Wine Country: Burgundy" by Hubrecht Duijker et al, I feel the book provides a broad understanding of Burgundy wines, but is lacking in several specific areas. For example, in its restaurant and winery suggestions it does not include the address, hours, or credit cards taken. Only the telephone numbers are listed. This would require that you carry around a European cell phone to call ahead to get directions and information, or that you have time to stop and find pay phones while traveling. The writers also assume that you are sufficiently fluent in French to communicate with prorietors to get all the information you need. This, in my opinion, is a serious flaw in the book. Moreover, the vineyard and restaurant recommendatons are written in very small type along the margins of the book - like mouse print. The maps are very general and would not suffice in and of themselves - to get you where you're going. Another book, Fodor's Rivages - Wines and Vineyards of Character and Charm in France, I feel, does a better job on the maps and recommendations-- all have addresses, hours, credit card information, etc. And each winery has a page description so you know beforehand if you want to visit and what the days/hours are. Each winery has a number that corresponds to a location on a map- which is fairly detailed, so you can easily find it.

This book covers all areas of bungundy in ways it seems only an expect could do - and sometimes understand. All possible areas of interest, known and little known, are listed. The many area/city regional maps are very clean and helpful. The only thing to possibly change is the blow by blow listing of what highway to take where, when to turn right/left, etc. That tends to make the book drag. Overall, definitly worth purchasing if you want to get started in Burgundy or need a driving guide of who does what and where they do it. (If you do use this as a driving guide, don't bother getting a Michelin guide unless you are going outside the appelation.) Makes you want to drink a glass for every word printed.