It is not often that I write trip advisor reviews, but I feel sometimes an experience really warrants it. This was one of those times.
A friend and myself had the pleasure of being shown round the region by Joy. Three things struck me throughout the tour. The first was the knowledge and passion that she had for the wine, vines, and area in general. Her knowledge was unmatched. The second was her eagerness to impart her knowledge and excitement onto members of the tour. You could feel her passion for the wine and got the sense that she wanted members of the group to be more informed and passionate about it as well. Last but not least, it was abundantly clear that she had genuine relationships with the farmers and domain owners and staff we met. I got the sense that during their time in Burgundy, Joy and her husband had not just formed business relationships with these individuals, they had become genuine friends. In every place we went, she was recognised and met with smiles, and more often than not, the owner or sommelier would go into the back looking for a bottle of the really good stuff.
With most wine tours, you expect to walk away with a little more knowledge than you had before, but this tour was something a little more special. I walked away feeling as though I had gone through an induction, not just into the wine but into the culture and community of Burgundy itself.
A truly unique experience which I would highly recommend.
P.S the lunch was also excellent!