After Chateau de Sauvigny there wasn’t much we could do to top the experience. Our next stop with Jerry and Arlene was the Chateau du Clos de Vougeot. It is one of the most famous chateaus in all of Burgundy. Built in the 12th century by the monks of Citeaux Abbey, it has never received a star, medallion or fork by the many food critics that criss-cross the country. Yet, it is a Mecca for French gastronomy. The chateau is renowned for the quality of its food and its large banquets halls that are attended regularly by the French elite. It is also the headquarters of The Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin.
Camille Rodier and Georges Faiveley started the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin on November 16, 1934 in Nuits-Saint-George to promote wines from Burgundy. The organization currently boasts a membership of over 12,000 worldwide. Right after WWII they purchased Chateau du Clos de Vougeot. By the way, a tastevin is the silver cup that many sommeliers wear around their necks to taste wine. If you don’t know what a sommelier is that’s the person at a fancy restaurant that will help you pick a wine to go with your meal. I know it all sounds a bit haughty, but what can I say?
For me, the interesting thing about The Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin was that there was talk of starting a chapter close to where I live in Southern California. I was invited to be a founding member. Unfortunately or possibly fortunately, it never really got off the ground. When I realized it was going to be a bunch of old white guys wearing goofy red and white outfits with a silver cup hanging from their neck I knew it wasn’t for me.
On the way back to Rabelo we found this interesting metal sculpture that Lisa and Arlene fell in love with.
-Tom Miller
Author of “The Wave” and “When Stones Speak”– Chuck Palmer Adventure novels
DEC
About the Author:
Tom Miller graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science in Geology. He is a consummate adventurer with over 1,000 dives as a recreational scuba diver, and an avid sailor who has traveled 65,000 miles throughout the Pacific including the Hawaiian Islands. Miller has also cruised the canals of Europe on his canal barge and given numerous lectures on cruising the canals of Europe, as well as sailing in the South Pacific. Piloting is also an interest of Miller's, and He has completed over 1,000 hours flying everything from small Cessnas to Lear jets.