The Road to Burgundy: The Unlikely Story of an American Making Wine and a New Life in France

Drinking wine and talking about it is pretty much a given when you live in California’s Bay Area, near multitudes of vineyards. Nevertheless, Walker inherited a disdain for wine from his parents who proclaimed it a drink for snobs. But during a trip to Italy with his fiancée, Walker tasted a new world. “I took a bite of my spaghetti, working the tender noodles and rich tomato, herb and olive oil around in my mouth, and then swished with a sip of wine. It was alchemy.” His curiosity about wines blossomed, then grew into a full-blown obsession, until he found himself living out his dream in the vineyards of Burgundy and making a wine of his own. In this rich account, Walker chronicles his five-year journey from Northern California to the French countryside with self-deprecating humor and earnestness. Whether he’s learning French from cable television, convincing his wife of the validity of his plan, deconstructing the terroir of Burgundy, or negotiating a price for some of the “most precious grapes in the world,” Walker fearlessly plunges in. Wine geeks will enjoy Walker’s blow-by-blow account of the winemaking process. Those less inclined to appreciate wine’s back story can revel in his descriptions of Burgundy’s food and lifestyle. Walker’s tale evokes the exquisite thrill of finding and following your passion, no matter how crazy it might seem. Agent: Sharon Bowers, Miller Bowers Griffin Literary. (July)