I've been surprised how little notice the Burgundy region of France receives other than among oenophiles. The "play" part of our upcoming working vacation will start there after five nights in Paris, during which we'll mix meetings with apartment owners and relaxing with friends.
This will be a return visit to the charming Domaine des Anges chambre d'hote in Puligny-Montrachet, a small village that is home to many of the top white Burgundy wine producers. The village above is nearby - I have no idea of the name - and is typically surrounded by vines. Perhaps that is the reason Burgundy flies under the radar; there's not a whole lot to do except travel between picturesque villages, sample great wines and enjoy wonderful food. We'll manage.
After a night in Geneva we'll head to Provence for a couple of days. Thanks to Peter Mayle, there's no shortage of tourists there. We'll be staying the small village of Vaugines, just a few kilometers from Lourmarin, where Mayle now lives. His "Year in Provence" was written about his experiences near Menerbes, which is not far away.
The notice has been good for a region that was nearly abandoned for decades. Its beauty now is protected by law because much of Provence now is considered a national park and development is severely restricted. Simple economics have the same effect in Burgundy, where acreage commands startling sums for use as vineyards rather than McMansion subdivisions.
We're preparing to join the 430 permanent inhabitants of Puligny this fall and adapting to the rhythms of the harvest season in what remains more a working community than a tourist site.
For those with interest, here's the link to a recent New York Times article about Burgundy:
www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/travel/13footsteps.html?emc=eta1
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