InTouch Travel

James was on the staff of Steven Spurrier's original venture, a Paris wine shop called Caves de la Madeleine, lectured at its wine school, l'Academie du Vin, and waited on tables at the adjacent Blue Fox Wine Bar. He hung out with editors from the International Herald Tribune and entrepreneurs like Drew Harré, founder of the popular Così chain of sandwich shops and wine buyer for l'Ecluse wine bars. He worked in wine cellars in Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Languedoc and Australia. And he studied for the rigorous Master of Wine examination, completed successfully by one or two candidates a year. (There are barely 200 Masters of Wine in all.)

What James brings to In Touch travel is a level of expertise that is unique in its breadth and depth. Serious wine collectors already know him by reputation; here's a chance to meet him personally and to absorb some of his knowledge.

James is modest to a fault, and reluctant to offer publicly a "menu" of the private estates where he can request tastings. We hope you'll respect his discretion. After all, when you see Lynch-Bages and Pichon Longueville on every Bordeaux tour itinerary, you get the picture: these places are open to the general public. Nor can one regularly presume upon the hospitality of a friend who happens to own a prestigious chateau.

So James puts together his programs one-by-one, once he knows who his guests will be and where their interests lie. He'll set up a day of tasting so that it's geographically and enologically coherent, organized to respect the rhythms of the wine maker's workday and the high standards of the chateau owners. One or two tastings in the morning, a good lunch, and a tasting in the afternoon is the usual schedule.

In two days, you can get to know one region in depth, or become more superficially acquainted with two or three regions: the Medoc (Margaux, St. Julien, Pauillac, St. Estephe); the Right Bank (Saint Emilion, Pomerol); the Graves (Pessac-Leognan); and Sauternes.

And if you've visited Bordeaux before, you might enjoy a trip into the Entre-Deux-Mers, with modest wines but terrific scenery.

Note: James lives a good hour from the center of Bordeaux, in the remote village of Sauveterre-de-Guyenne, and won't usually be able to stay in town for the entire evening. He'll have an aperitif with you, make sure everything is set for your dinner, then head home to his family.

SPECIAL NOTE for James Lawther, M.W.

As a Master of Wine, James is in high demand for his professional knowledge and experience. A "professional day" of wine visits and wine education with James requires him to invest significant additional preparation on your behalf; there's a $200 supplement per day for these services. As a further option, James can make lunch reservations at restaurants with appropriate wine lists; and can continue his wine education as your guest during the meal. In addition, some wineries (like Chateau Mouton-Rothschild, for example) charge tasting fees of up to $30 per person.

"We roll up to the chateau, and there's a big wrought-iron gate, and it's locked. I thought, oh, we're doomed. But James rings the bell, and wouldn't you know, the gate swings open, and a guy in a three-piece suit comes out and greets him like a long-lost cousin, and takes us all inside and starts pouring wines I've read about for years but never dreamed I'd be tasting myself."
-David Morgan, Detroit, Mich.

James, you have my undying thanks for the splendid tastings you arranged and the fascinating people you introduced us to. All the more impressive that they are clearly your friends.
-Charles Bott, Wilimington, Del.

Never have I learned so much in such a short time. Two days in Bordeaux equals twenty years of collecting!
-Dr. Michael Moynahan, Topeka, Kan.