Review: The Road to Burgundy by Ray Walker

Title: The Road to Burgundy
Author: Ray Walker
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Gotham
Publish Date: July 11, 2013
Source: I received a copy from the publisher; however, this did not affect my review.

What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "Ray Walker had a secure career in finance until a wine-tasting vacation ignited a passion that he couldn’t stifle. Ray neglected his work, spending hours poring over ancient French winemaking texts, learning the techniques and the language, and daydreaming about vineyards. After Ray experienced his first taste of wine from Burgundy, he could wait no longer. He quit his job and went to France to start a winery—with little money, a limited command of French, and virtually no winemaking experience. 

Fueled by determination and joie de vivre, he immersed himself in the extraordinary history of Burgundy’s vineyards and began honing his skills. Ray became a pioneer in his use of ancient techniques in modern times and founded Maison Ilan. In 2009, Ray became the first non-French winemaker to purchase grapes and produce a wine from Le Chambertin, long considered to be one of the most revered and singular vineyards in the world. 

Along with his struggle to capture his wine’s distinct terroir, Ray shares enthralling stories of late-night tastings, flying down the Route National on a vintage Peugeot bicycle with no brakes, and his journey to secure both the trust of his insular Burgundian neighbors and the region’s most coveted grapes. Capturing the sunlight, the smell of the damp soil, and the taste of superlative wine, The Road to Burgundy is a glorious celebration of finding one’s true path in life, and taking a chance—whatever the odds."

My Two Cents:

"The Road to Burgundy" is the non-fiction story of one man who chooses to follow his passion wherever it leads him even if it leads him away from everything he knows. Armed with his family and a passion for amazing wines, Ray Walker tells his story of how he left a job he didn't care for and decided to become a winemaker in France. It's a great story for those who dream of getting away from the status quo and finding something that they are truly passionate about.

Stories like this always make me feel really hopeful. It's always so great to see someone find something that they really love and turn it into their life's work. Walker starts out knowing little to nothing about wine except that it is enjoyable to drink. After a trip abroad sparks him to learn about wine, Walker dives in head first and decides to learn everything he can about wine. When that's not enough, he decides that he needs to learn to make wine even if it means taking a huge leap of faith and jumping into an area that he has absolutely no experience with. I really liked the way that he told his story. 

This was a very entertaining read! I really liked that on top of an interesting story, you also got a chance for some great armchair traveling. This book is a fairly quick read that kept me entertained all the way through!