Alex Gambal - An american in Burgundy

14 years ago Alex Gambal left his career in real estate, said good bye to his life and settled down in Beaune, capitale of Burgundy winemaking. What happened to him? Why did he throw his Washington, DC family into a town of 20,000 people, send his kids who spoke no French to the local public school, and instruct his wife to start making friends with the neighbors? Burgundy is a great region and I strongly recommend visiting and even repeated visits. But there is a difference between avid tourism and total assimilation – Like the difference between enjoying a weekend at Disney Land and trying to get your family to become Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Alex Gambal became passionate about wine in general, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in particular thanks to a small wine boutique where he used to shop in Washington. There the wine merchant introduced him to the concept of wine regions, explaining wine in a way that went far beyond ratings and marketing (the 2 killers of good taste, as you know). He became so passionate that he decided to become one of the heroes of the Wine Tales that so enthralled him. That was 14 years ago, and against all odds, he has done it, superbly, in fact. In the small world of Burgundy winemakers, Alex Gambal made himself a name. His wines are precise and sophisticated.

The Chardonnay of the week is a simple Burgundy appellation, which means that the grapes have to be Chardonnay from Burgundy, and the wine has to be made in Burgundy. Often, these generic Chardonnay are inexpensive and mediocre. This one is somewhat more expensive, but it is the trademark of Alex Gambal wines. Alex makes plenty of other wines, more famous and also more expensive, but they all have a style that you will find in this particular wine. The quality of the simplest wine in his range is proof Gambal’s dedication to winemaking. It takes guts to throw your comfortable life away and start from scratch again. Alex makes wine because he is passionate; this particular wine reflects his passion beautifully.