Two years ago, like any other marketing director with a company exhibiting at Le Bourget, David Hammond's only real interest was whether the visiting customers would be satisfied with the products on display, the people trying to sell them, and the refreshment on offer.
Today he and his wife Lynne are in a completely different environment. Having left the business, moved from Stevenage to a beautiful hamlet in the rolling hills of Burgundy 250 kilometres from Paris, the Hammonds have found their dream and are operating Burgundy Discovery.
The company offers personal small group wine tasting tours of select wine cellars and vineyards. Offering one, two and three day tours of Burgundy's Cote de Beaune, Cote Chalonnaise and Cotes de Nuits. "Our tours are for everyone who enjoys wine and are personal, informal and informative," says Hammond. "Tours are conducted in English and limited to a maximum of six people whom we chauffeur in our Land Rover Discovery."
Both wine lovers and fluent in French, the Hammonds have surprised local winemakers with their knowledge and passion for the local produce. Over the two years visitors from the USA, Australia and Europe have taken the tours and recommended them to others.
Sylvain Dussort, whose family vineyard in the village of Meursault is one of those on the Burgundy Discovery trail of 'hidden secrets' says, "to me it was strange to have English people bringing visitors around but it has helped us see the wine in a different way. Many Americans in particular go away astonished at the quality of wines from the Chardonnay grape."
The Hammonds have a virtual personal campaign against the ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) brigade. "Most people who say that are used to the more chemical tastes of the New World chardonnays. When they try some of the beautiful individual tastes from the Cote Chalonnaise or the Cote de Beaune wines they realise there is so much more. The same can be said for the fabulous Burgundy reds made from the pinot noir grape. They are individual wines that can taste different from one side of the road to another," David says.
The Burgundy Discovery is a great venture for airshow folk who are looking for that special day out at the end of the week. A TGV train from Gare du Nord takes less than 90 minutes to reach Beaune where the Hammonds will greet you with their trademark Landrover Discovery and begin the tour.
You will stop at small family vineyards, meet the owners, taste wines from the barrel, help with the bottling and taste wine after wine after wine with no pressure to buy. Add that to the excellent lunch or dinner in a local restaurant and this is a day trip to paradise.
Tours start from E120 per person per day contact Lynne or David on 03 85 49 51 34 or by email on david@burgundydiscovery.com.
More information including how to order wine/vacations can be found on www.burgundydiscovery.com
ALAN PEAFORD
Source: Flight Daily News