Sancerre, France

Most people know Sancerre for its famous wine made from Sauvignon Blanc and while the wines are spectacular the city is also beautiful.  It is built on the top of a hill and has an old tower fortress with amazing views of the surrounding landscape.

After driving out of town we stopped to look back at the setting sun on the city.   What a wonderful place to visit and even better place to taste amazing white wines!

Pouilly Fume, France

The very eastern edge of the Loire Valley wine region is Pouilly Fume and Sancerre.  This area produces some of the very best Sauvignon Blanc wines in the world.  We tasted and purchased wines at Domanine Masson-Blondelet.  We tasted the same grape, Sauvignon Blanc, from three different vineyards in the area.  Each having different primary soil composition:  limestone, silt, and clay.

The village and the vineyards are east of the Loire River.  Another absolutely beautiful drive through the birthplace of Sauvignon Blanc.

Autun, France

Today is August 31 and the birthday of my Grandpa Zanotti.  He may not be with us on this Earth but he is now and always with me in my heart.  I love you and miss you Grandpa Z.

The city of Autun is on the pass from Burgundy to the Loire Valley.  It is an old Roman city built on top of a large hill.  The original roman walls remain and in the center is a beautiful church.

Since it was a Sunday morning, Mark and I attended mass while passing through!

Beaune, France

The city of Beaune is at the northern end of the Cote de Beaune section of the Cote d’Or.  It is a beautiful small city with medieval walls that circle the center.

While we were there a wedding was just ending.  What a beautiful young couple!

Cote de Beaune

The birthplace and some of the best chardonnay wines in the world are in the Cote de Beaune region of Burgundy’s Cote d’Or.  Our first stop and wine tasting was in the village of Meursalut at Domaine Philippe Delagrange. 

We picked up wine, bread, meats and cheeses from the local shops and continued south driving through all the small villages in the Cote de Beaune.  When we reached the village of Mercury in the Cote Chalonnaise region of Burgundy we stopped and enjoyed our picnic in the vineyards.

Dijon, France

We actually did go to a mustard tasting and it while it was incredible to taste all the different types of mustard there is more than just mustard to Dijon, France.   My uncle Mark Drallette would be the first to tell you they have the best Crepes in all of France, maybe the entire world!  I will let him explain those details.

Dijon was where the Duke of Burgundy lived.  The empire went form Lyon, France north up to the Netherlands and the Duke’s power was almost equal to the King of France.  There are amazing restaurants severing true Bourgogne cuisine.