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John Nugent is a co-proprietor, along with his fiancé, of Colorado Wine Company in Eagle Rock (2114 Colorado Boulevard). He stops by from time to time to give la.foodblogging readers a taste of the wine business, from the inside. This is not an advertisement and no promotional fee or arrangement has been made between Colorado Wine Co. and la.foodblogging

“Let the Wine Make Itself” — That’s an old Burgundian saying that basically reflects a ‘hands off’ approach to winemaking in Burgundy, France. If you ask most wine folks what they would drink for the rest of their lives if they could only choose one type of wine, almost all of them would say Burgundy. Why? As we’ve said before - land and climate. The primary grapes in Burgundy are Chardonnay for the whites and Pinot Noir for the reds and virtually all other regions and countries growing these grapes look to Burgundy as the ideal. Unlike in Bordeaux where Chateaus can be palatial manors with acres and acres of vines, Burgundy has a land ownership system that is seemingly made to confuse. There are thousands of tiny vineyards grouped together as domaines, each with multiple owners, resulting in many different wines from one domaine generally produced in small quantities. This complex system is rivaled only by the labyrinthine German system. So if the Sideways mania has driven you to California Pinot, good! Now try a red Burgundy and experience the original Pinot Noir. And if you are one of the many who have proclaimed they will absolutely NOT drink any more Chardonnay because California has oaked and buttered it to death, grab yourself a white Burgundy. You won’t be disappointed.