Burgundy. Introduction 
Burgundy has often been named the stomach of France (as Paris is the head, and Champagne is the soul), but I don’t think that such a comparison is correct. If you associate France with the body, then Burgundy is its tongue with all its taste buds. Because Burgundy is not about gluttony, it is about enjoyment. Enjoyment of meal, enjoyment of wine. For this Burgundy has everything. As Burgundians say – it is an Epicurean place. Burgundian wines are famous around the world.
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Wines of North Burgundy 
About Burgundy in general I am talking here, so let’s talk about North Burgundy in particular. In our wine case, we are talking about the Yonna region. The most well-known part of Yonna is Chablis. Famous, worldwide known wine. One of the most often illegitimate used names. Absolutely unique Chardonnay. Many simplified wine maps show this part of France just like Chablis, not caring about anything else. However, not only Chablis exists on the wine hills of the region. So, Yonna.
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Rain Dance Winery 
Last November, my friend took me to her favourite Oregon winery Raine Dance. It is a small winery located among its own vineyards in Chehalem Mountains AVA. Cozy tasting room and the personnel are ready for a nice talk about wine. Riesling was good; Chardonnay didn’t impress me, too oaky, but lovers of American-style Chardonnay should appreciate it. The main variety, as among most Oregon wineries, is Pinot noir. They offer three different cuvees. Good Oregon Pinot noir. Prices are not low, which is typical for Oregon, from 20 to 60 dollars.
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North Burgundy. Coteaux de Tannay and Melon de Bourgogne 
Coteaux de Tannay was the last place on our Wine and Waters journey for the bike and wine visit. Administratively it is located in Burgundy, and the climate and soil are also typical for Burgundy. However, accolading wine territorial classification, it belongs to Loire Valley. Tannay’s winemakers make wine in the Burgundy tradition (that is logical), but it cannot be named Burgundy (because belongs to the Loire formally), so it got the IGP title. The main varieties are Chardonnay and Pinot noir, as everywhere in Burgundy, and also Melon de Bourgogne.
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North Burgundy. Vezelay 
Vezelay – it’s about history, architecture, religion, and wine.
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North Burgundy. Irancy 
Irancy is a small, nice town, that is located on the right bank of Yonna, about four kilometres from the river. It was founded in 900 AD when Abbot Richard, Duke of Burgundy expanded his abbey. Also, it is one of the most northern French AOCs for red wines. Its specialization is Pinot noir. And it is also the ideal place to understand the idea of terroir.
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“Wine improves with age” – myth or reality? 
Let’s talk about the wine age and how it correlates with wine quality. Do we need to pay attention to the year on the label? In which case is a wine worth being stored, and when is better to drink it immediately as soon as practical? We are talking here about the ageing of wine that is already bottled and is not any more the object of any winemaking manipulation.
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Walla Walla. April visit.
About once a year I make a visit to the wineries of East Washington, tasting the production of the local winemakers. Some of them I love so much that re-visit them from time to time, especially to introduce them to my friends, but usually, I love to try something new considering the huge amount of wineries in this place. My preference is small wineries which wines can be bought only via the winery itself, because wines of big wineries can be found in any huge liquor store in the state, so don’t worth so long ride. A couple of weeks ago we spent a day in Walla Walla, one of the most famous AVA of Washington. About AVA and US wine law you can read here.
This time we visited four new (for me) wineries.
First on our way was Waterbrook, the biggest and most glamorous among them. The huge
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World of Magic Bubbles 
In the article about Champagne I talk in detail about the history of the foremother of all sparkling wines, about Champagne’s styles and technology. However, the world of magic bubbles doesn’t restrict to Champagne; it is wide, deep, diverse, and very interesting.
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Champagne 
The sparkling wine world is huge and inimitable. Careful examination of all its part requires time, patience, and trained liver. Today we will talk about the origin of sparkling wine, about champagne – the foremother of all of them, about the main methods of sparkling wine production, and about countries those sparkling wines are wildly present in the world market.
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Pinot Noir. Red grape – red, white, and rose wine 
Pinot Noir is one of the most popular red grape varieties in the world. Pinot Noir is a delicate and finicky grape, requiring special care and attention from winemakers. However, the effort pays off a hundredfold, as it produces remarkable wines. Pinot Noir is also unique in that it can yield red, white, or even rosé wine with equal distinction.
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