The Heart of Burgundy: A Portrait of French Wine Country
Editorial Reviews Book Description
Burgundy came into its own during the Middle Ages, with the flourishing of the Catholic Church, and more specifically under the Benedictine order of Cluny. These monks were renowned for their religious enthusiasm, work ethic, spartan lifestyle, and adherence to physically exhausting hard labor. This philosophy apparently led to the Cistercians' decision to cultivate the poor, infertile, rocky soil of what today is known as the Côte d'Or.
From the introduction by Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The Heart of Burgundy focuses a wide lens on a little region in the French countryside Burgundy begins about seventy-five miles south of Paris and stretches down through the Côte d'Or, Côte Chalonnaise, Mâconnais, and Beaujolais in a skinny and wavy line more than two hundred miles long. The decision by the Cistercians to cultivate its soil, which Robert Parker mentions above, was a monumental one, for today the chief products of Burgundy are Pinot Noir, Beaujolais, Chablis, and Pouilly-Fuissé, and it is home to one of the most famous vineyards in the world, the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. While the Burgundy region is not the largest in acreage, or even in wine production, its yearly wine auction held at the Hospices de Beaune is an indication of where prices will be set for France's entire vintage. That means that at a certain time of year all of France, indeed all the world, can become fixated on this otherwise sleepy agricultural area.
Because it stretches north to south, Burgundy is one of the most eclectic regions in terms of climate and terrain, providing Andy Katz with many interesting and beautiful photo opportunities. The emphasis of the photos in The Heart of Burgundy is not only on the grapes, vines, and vineyards but also on the unique and beautiful land that produces the wine and the culture from which it stems. The landscape and light, which are full of variety and seem to constantly shift and change, are two of the more alluring factors of this region, and these are fully illustrated in Andy Katz's photographs, with their brilliant clarity, vibrant color, and depth of focus.
To round out this view of Burgundy, Robert M. Parker, Jr., contributes an introduction to the region that only someone with his level of experience could. As author and publisher of The Wine Advocate, he has been exploring the wine country of France for twenty years, visiting each château and domaine, drinking in the wine, culture, and landscape. He understands the unpredictably harsh weather of Burgundy, the clay/lime stone soil that runs through the pastoral, rolling hills, and the identity and character of the people and their wines. Together, in words and pictures, Parker and Katz demonstrate an understanding of the heart of Burgundy and celebrate the beauty of the French countryside.
The Heart of Burgundy: A Portrait of French Wine Country,Andy Katz,Simon & Schuster Books,0684845954,Beverages - Wine & Spirits,Burgundy,Cooking,Cooking / Wine,France,Pictorial works,Wine and wine making,Wine and winemaking
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