claude chapuis

Written by an expert of the ins and outs of viticulture in Burgundy and many other areas of the world, this new volume showcases the wine-growing culture of Burgundy. Sustainable Viticulture: The Vines and Wines of Burgundy covers the rich history and culture of the wine growing tradition of the region.

The author, who has worked as a viticulturist in Burgundy, Switzerland, Germany, California, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, tells the epic story of Burgundy, a 2000-year adventure with its ups and downs. The oldest vineyard discovered by archaeologists dates back to the first century A.D. By the third century, Burgundy wines were already famous in the Roman Empire. Burgundy was a powerful state in the 15th century, which was also a golden age for its viticulture.

The book covers:

• the red and white cultivars that are to be found in Burgundy
• the Appellations Contrôlées system
• the tasks the wine grower performs during the year
• the social life of wine growers
• the scourges the wine grower fears
• how religion has played at part in the history of viticulture
• the factors that contributed to making Burgundy wines famous
• what new challenges growers are facing today

In this entertaining and informative book, the author’s approach to viticulture reconciles the present, the past, and the future. The volume will appeal to wine buffs as much as it does to readers who wish to learn about viticulture. It's a serious book that doesn't take itself seriously.