The Road to Burgundy

The Unlikely Story of an American Making Wine and a New Life in France

By: Ray Walker

Narrated by: Sean Crisden

Ray Walker had a secure career in finance until a wine-tasting vacation ignited a passion that he couldn't stifle. Ray neglected his work, spending hours poring over ancient French winemaking texts, learning the techniques and the language, and daydreaming about vineyards. After Ray experienced his first taste of wine from Burgundy, he could wait no longer. He quit his job and went to France to start a winery - with little money, a limited command of French, and virtually no winemaking experience.

Fueled by determination and joie de vivre, he immersed himself in the extraordinary history of Burgundy's vineyards and began honing his skills. Ray became a pioneer in his use of ancient techniques in modern times and founded Maison Ilan. In 2009, Ray became the first non-French winemaker to purchase grapes and produce a wine from Le Chambertin, long considered to be one of the most revered and singular vineyards in the world.

Along with his struggle to capture his wine's distinct terroir, Ray shares enthralling stories of late-night tastings, flying down the Route National on a vintage Peugeot bicycle with no brakes, and his journey to secure both the trust of his insular Burgundian neighbors and the region's most coveted grapes. Capturing the sunlight, the smell of the damp soil, and the taste of superlative wine, The Road to Burgundy is a glorious celebration of finding one's true path in life, and taking a chance - whatever the odds.

©2013 Ray Walker (P)2013 Tantor

Man makes history living out his dream!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Road to Burgundy to be better than the print version?

Yes!

What did you like best about this story?

Man lives out his dream

What does Sean Crisden bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

thought Sean Crisden did wonderful job! Kept me involved and interested, doing an admirable job with difficult French pronunciations

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

An American in Burgundy

Hoping for a sequel. This is an engaging story well told an well narrated. Did the names of the grapes change at the end? I am very happy to see that the wine that Ray worked so hard to produce is now available in America. Well done, Ray!

Great book!

Would you listen to The Road to Burgundy again? Why?

Yes, I would listen to it again. The book, to me, was very moving and poignant. It is about a man that literally drops everything to pursue his dreams and succeeds.

What did you like best about this story?

The fortuitousness of finding the grapes and the funding to pay for them.

Have you listened to any of Sean Crisden’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, my first book from this reader. I think he did an excellent job conveying the story.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When the farmer decided to to sell Ray the grapes.

Any additional comments?

Great book for any wine lover that dreams of ever producing their own wine.

Wonderful!

Wonderful example of following your dream! Enjoyed this book and look forward to tasting Ray's wine someday.

Best story I have listen since I joined audible in 2012

Loved it couldn't stop listening. Probably one of the best books you can find on audible.

Compelling storytelling

What did you love best about The Road to Burgundy?

Beautifully written, compelling story of courage and following a soul-calling. Thoroughly enjoyed it, and would wholeheartedly recommend this book!

Have you listened to any of Sean Crisden’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Narration was beautifully done. Crisden's French accent, however - well, if he meant to convey that the author has (or had) an atrocious accent in French, he succeeded thoroughly. We nearly fell over laughing at his pronunciation of "Beaune" throughout the book...

Wonderful story performed brilliantly

This is an interesting and fun story for someone who loves wine and the history of French wine. Read with magnificent live and character, it keeps you entertained and involved every time. I would recommend.

American transplant to Burgundy

I loved the book. Unlike other wine books, this one respects the history of wine grown in burgundy. The courage of Ray Walker to pick up his family and leave for France in an unknown adventure demanded and got my respect and attention. I followed up watching him on TV with Anthony Bourdain. Ray Walker is a one of a kind winemaker whom the Burgundians respect and admire.

I've never gone through book so fast

Inspiring and fun in so many ways, Ray Walker did what so many of us dream of in the wine world! The strikes of luck and hardships keep the book interesting and entertaining! Made me buy more burgundy then usual and want glass almost every time I heard it!
Fun dynamic and well written! I wish him and his family much luck and success!

One of the worst narrations I’ve heard…

The content of the book is interesting and engaging. However, the narrator’s savage butchery of the French language is appalling. How does this happen in a book about France??? The narrator’s inability to pronounce the many, many French words and names included in this book was a huge distraction. Disappointing.