FROM ROUTES AND WINES: BURGUNDY

A few weeks ago, we packed our bags again to resume one of our favorite activities: traveling in search of the best flavors. Marcelo and Marité , accompanied by Daniela , Romina , and Annet , ventured to one of the world's most important wine regions: Burgundy.

This journey through one of the world's most historic and prestigious wine regions has been a true source of inspiration and knowledge. Above all, we were struck by how such a small territory can generate so much activity around wine and how this is reflected in the restaurants, shops, and tourism—both professional and general—that flocks to this legendary French region to drink good wine. Burgundy speaks of village wines, but also of vineyard wines. The classification of soils is valued, so some vineyards have more or less prestige than others, but Burgundy also speaks of the winemakers, the people, and the skill of the viticulturist. That is what we always strive for at La Carbonera Madrid … the essence.

PERNOT PÈRE ET FILS

Pinot noir and Chardonnay are the two quintessential grapes of this region, which is further divided into four subregions: Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune, both part of the Côte d'Or, and further south, the remaining two, Côte Chalonnaise and Mâconnaise. We had the opportunity to explore the first two Côtes and took the opportunity to visit the renowned Domaine Pernot Père et Fils winery. There, we were greeted by Pascal, who showed us the surrounding vineyards and then invited us to taste all of his wines… and it was barely 10 a.m.!

Our favorites were a 2022 Côte de Nuits-Villages from the La Croix Violette plot and a 2022 Gevrey-Chambertin from the Les Jeunes Rois plot. By the way, thanks to the invaluable collaboration of Silvia and Alma Vinos Únicos , who helped us prepare this wonderful tour , we now have the Côte de Nuits available at our shop… ask us for it next time you visit!

FORT SAINT-ANTOINE

The trip to Burgundy came to the girls from La Carbonera Madrid during their last Christmas Eve dinner after tasting three bottles of wine... But the idea of ​​traveling to the Jura region was a recommendation from Adrián Pellejo of Formaje . After realizing that visiting cheese dairies in France was going to be rather complicated, we decided to go there, and the experience couldn't have been more satisfying!

Imposing, Fort Saint-Antoine is a veritable cathedral of cheese, an essential destination for anyone who appreciates and works in this world. Four master cheesemakers oversee some 60,000 wheels of cheese, monitoring each one's maturation process using their senses of hearing, touch, and sight… with the help of a hammer! After experiencing the fort and tasting its cheeses, we can truly speak of what an authentic Comté Saint Antoine from Marcel Petite is. By the way, in Fort Saint-Antoine, they don't produce cheese, they age cheese! These are two completely different tasks, which the French know how to distinguish perfectly.

GASTRONOMIC BURGUNDY

Whenever we travel, even though we're working, we try to make it as enjoyable as possible. Of course, you can work and enjoy yourself at the same time. Those of us lucky enough to be able to do so know that this way of understanding life is the right one! Burgundy did not disappoint us at all. Not only because of the quality of its wines, but also because of its food and, especially, its cheeses. In fact, on the first night of the trip, we went to a local market that had a dreamy cheese display, and with the products we bought there, we put together a delicious dinner with the cheese board you see in the photo. The cheeses were spectacular, of exceptional quality and at their peak of ripeness.

Furthermore, we were able to sample an incredible variety of cuisine in the restaurants. It's a pleasure to see how these people handle doughs, stews, cheeses, wines, and so on. Seriously, it's a very high level of cuisine for a tourist area, which makes it very special.