Drink Up, Chow Down

Château Pichon Baron Bordeaux's  Château Pichon Baron is magnificent. Drive past its famous château (no longer a private residence) and you’ll see many a wine tourist taking photos of it from the road. Originally classified as one of the 15 prestigious second growths in the Bordeaux Classification of 1855, the estate is now owned by French insurance company AXA, which has invested significantly in modernizing its facilities. Château Pichon Baron Château Pichon Baron Although I did join the tourists taking selfies from the road, I was also offered a private tour of the spectacular property. It’s a beautifully-designed estate, with a definite eye to the future. Much of the winemaking actually takes place underneath the famous pond and lawn in front of the château. (And yes, there are portholes!) The library at Château Pichon Baron Their library collection is astounding, with bottles dating back to the late-1800s. Oh, to be that time trave...

I was lucky enough to score a private tour of   Château Lynch-Bages   during my visit to Bordeaux earlier this summer. (Thank you to the Twitter-friendly staff who handle their marketing!) This Pauillac icon has been producing wine since the mid-eighteenth century and was classified as one of the 18 fifth growths in the Bordeaux classification of 1855. The Château has passed through several families since then, but has now been in the Cazes family since 1938. When visiting the Bordeaux area, it’s easy to be impressed by the ultra-modern technology, the shiny wine cellars and sparkling new vat rooms, but what impressed me most about Lynch-Bages was their devotion to preserving and celebrating the past. They’ve dedicated plenty of prime Pauillac real estate to creating a museum on their property to house their old equipment and share the winemaking stories and traditions of past generations. Their old press, sorting table and vats teach us an important wi...