Great Wine, No Fancy Table Required

One of the things I love most about wine has very little to do with tasting notes or scores.

Wine brings people together.

On our recent trip to France, we visited several wineries, but one experience in Burgundy really stood out for me: Domaine Gille.

We were hosted by the wife of a husband-and-wife winemaking team whose family has been growing Pinot Noir for more than a century. She showed us the cellar and vineyards and talked about how the land has been passed down through generations. In Burgundy, vineyards aren’t just property — they’re family history.

When it was time to taste, we didn’t go to a formal tasting room. We sat down at their dining room table.

Through the sliding glass doors, we could see the vines beyond their patio. A Christmas tree was up. Family photos lined the walls. It felt less like a winery visit and more like being welcomed into someone’s home.

Behold the lineup at Domaine Gille.

We tasted Pinot Noir from old vines, wines deeply tied to place. Burgundy has a reputation for being serious and intimidating, but this wasn’t. It was relaxed, conversational, and unpretentious.

A few weeks later, Chris and I were back home in Willcox. It was New Year’s Day. Just the two of us, living in our fifth-wheel trailer, surrounded by winter vines and plans for the year ahead. The trailer oven is small and too scary to light, so our traditional Osso Bucco went into the crockpot. The trailer smelled glorious, and after a full day of vineyard work, we sat down to eat.

Burgundy felt right, so we opened a bottle we had enjoyed at that same table in France.

Great Burgundy.

Slow-cooked Osso Bucco.

Served in a trailer.

On TV trays.

Oh, and amazing company. 😉

And it was perfect.

A 1st Cru + Veal Shanks + Papparadle = YUM!

The setting didn’t matter. What mattered was sharing the moment.

To us, that’s part of what “approachable” means. Wine doesn’t need ceremony to be meaningful — just a willingness to slow down and enjoy it. Usually, laughter, stories, and great memories follow.

That’s the kind of wine experience we believe in at Skyhaven, and we'd love to be part of a great moment for you.

P.S. Here's my Osso Bucco recipe. It has never failed. Probably goes pretty well with some Skyhaven Mourvedre!