France for a MONTH

I can't believe the trip to France is almost here (flying this Saturday, praying that the volcanic ash cloud does not affect my flight). It seems like yesterday that my friend Mike and I first dreamed of this trip (well over a year ago).  A month in France: Paris, Burgundy, Rhone, Provence, Bordeaux and possibly a trip to Normandy to visit a friend's family for the night.  There are a lot of things running through my head.  I have read extensively about french culture and it all sounds so interesting and enticing.  From the five week vacations, the love of food and wine, to the love for life in general!  I have been to France before but I was just a young punk!  I know that after this experience I will not be the same person, I wonder if, when I get back, that I yearn to be back in France.  It just seems the complete opposite to American culture which is driving me nuts lately, where is our country?  It seems possessed by drones and zombies.  I just feel annoyed with this country, the culture, and especially the politics.  It seems the country is completely on the wrong track, more government intervention, more rules, more idiots in D.C., more bureaucracy, more big, giant, incompetent big brother.  I cannot wait to get out of this country for some air, before I drown.  You hear all sorts of interesting things in our media or from people about what they think of France, all of it, I don't believe.  I basically have given up on believing anything the media or "officials" say.  Okay, before I go off on a tangent let's get back to the trip.

Thirty wineries in three weeks, our stop in Paris is more about Paris than tasting wine, you could say its a primer for the rest of the trip.  Here are the wineries we are visiting.

First stop, Burgundy
William Fevre, Michel Laroche L'Obediencerie, Louis Michel et Fils, Domaine Daniel Etienne Defaix, Domaine Daniel Rion, Domaine Henri Rebourseau, Domaine Michel Gros, Domaine Trapet Pere and Fils, Maison Joseph Drouhin, Louis Latour, Louis Jadot.

Rhone/Provence
Jean-Luc Colombo, Alain Graillot, M. Chapoutier, Domaine Tempier, Chateau la Nerthe, Domaine Rouge Bleu, Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe, Clos des Papes, Domaine du Cayron, Chateau de Saint Cosme, Domaine la Garrigue, Domaine de Durban.

Bordeaux
Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, Chateau Haut-Goujon, Chateau Figeac, Chateau Lynch-Bages, Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion, Château La Louvière, Chateau Certan.

Wooooooo!

A lot of things are happening and have happened, I have this constant feeling of sheer happiness, borderline euphoria about the prospects for the future.  First looking back, from my first harvest with Rochioli, to the amazing people I met at the Culinary Institute of America, people I will be be in touch with for the rest of my life.  To the future, the trip to France of course, harvest again, and the launching of my company (more details on this as the details become details haha).  After trying last year and coming up short, my friend Mike, who started this whole thing with a simple question, "if I get into the wine industry will you join me?" I said "but of course," has finally gotten a harvest internship, and thus the journey begins with the ultimate goal of starting and launching a winery like no other.  To think this all started with being laid off, the best thing that ever happened to me!  It certainly didn't feel that way when it happened!

Off to France!