The Drouhin Family: Burgundy Past, Present & Future
A pivotal moment in my life happened in the Burgundy region of France. At a lovely dinner in Beaune, I was chatting with Philippe Drouhin, Estates Manager of Maison Joseph Drouhin, when he asked me where I saw myself in 10 years.
I quickly answered: “I’ll be part of a great winemaking team.”
I then froze, shocked at myself. This was the first time I’d ever declared this particular dream out loud…and I’d just announced it to a member of Burgundy wine royalty.
Philippe’s initial reaction was surprise, but then he smiled, lifted his glass to me, and replied, “You’ve chosen a wonderful profession.”
Lifting my glass in turn, I toasted him — and his family’s kick-ass wines — for inspiring me to look to the future.
“So, how did you get into wine?”
This is the question I get whenever I mention I’m starting a career in wine. It’s a question I love to answer, as opposed to: “You dtf?” or, “Are those real?” (Thanks, OK Cupid!)
So, here’s the story: