Hi Rene,

I heard in connection with an episode of VFB that it was recommended to write to the producers prior to a visit, to agree a time, etc. I therefore hope that you can give some advice on how I should approach it in a reasonable way .

My boyfriend and I are planning a trip to France to visit the Burgundy area in the period 10.aug. to 24 Aug. In this connection, do you have a list or can you name some producers who are “realistic” to write to for a visit and where there is also a probability that you would be able to buy some wine? It must of course be both good and skilled producers. My concern lies mostly in the fact that everything is sold by allocation in advance in the places I already know, but I think there must still be places down there where you can both have a good experience and buy some good wine from.

Hope you can help me and thanks in advance.

Sincerely, Alexander

Hi Alexander,

Thanks for your mail. The period you mention is the French’s summer holiday, which they usually take very seriously… unless the vintage calls for an early harvest and then it also happens right where you plan to visit. So in short: it is a bad period to visit Burgundy. I cannot rule out that there may be some who receive visits, but have doubts.

As you write, there are not many of the good ones who have anything to sell. I would probably try villages like Saint-Romain, Pernand-Vergelesses and Santenay – and of course up in the hinterland to the Hautes-Côtes. Try with Henri & Gilles Buisson, Chandon de Briailles, Rapet, Benoit Girardin.