When Thomas Jefferson embarked on his grand tour of France in 1787, he claimed the journey was for his health. A broken wrist sent him on a circuitous route, 1,200 miles south from Paris to take the mineral waters at Aix-en-Provence, and on the way he planned to fulfill his professional obligations as America's top envoy to France, researching French architecture, agriculture and engineering projects.But when he chose to begin his three-month journey in the vine-covered slopes of , Jefferson's daughter, Martha, became suspicious.
When Thomas Jefferson embarked on his grand tour of France in 1787, he claimed the journey was for his health. A broken wrist sent him on a circuitous route, 1,200 miles south from Paris to take the mineral waters at Aix-en-Provence, and on the way he planned to fulfill his professional obligations as America's top envoy to France, researching French architecture, agriculture and engineering projects.But when he chose to begin his three-month journey in the vine-covered slopes of , Jefferson's daughter, Martha, became suspicious.
"I am inclined to think that your voyage is rather for your pleasure than for your health," she teased him in a letter.
In fact, Jefferson's five-day visit to the Côte d'Or - a region famous even in the 18th century for its extraordinary terroir - was not accidental. After spending more than two years in Paris establishing diplomatic relations with the court of Louis XVI, Jefferson, a lifelong oenophile, had tasted his share of remarkable vintages. Now he was keen to discover the vineyards and cellars of Burgundy, and to study firsthand a tradition that stretched back to the 11th century.
NY Times, June 2010After having our brains stimulated at Nicéphore Niépce House we headed west to the magificent tasting rooms of Chateau de Chamiery near Mercurey and the wines of A & A Devillard that also include
Domaine des Perdrix in Nuits-Saint-Georges, Domaine de la Ferté in Givry and Domaine de la Garenne in Macon/Azé.