InTouch Travel

Before he thought much about wine, David was trained as a visual artist. As a painter and photographer, in fact. And painting remains a hobby to this day.

Although wine has occupied his family since the 17th century, David himself came around to the ancestral trade only after a stint as a woodcutter. Over the last quarter century, however, he has contributed more than his share of articles, tasting notes and books to world of wine writing. His coffee-table volume, The Great Wines and Vintages, profiles 45 of the world's leading wine estates in 13 countries and 4 continents.

The commercial side hasn't been neglected, however. David has been a national sales director for Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin, the prestigious Champagne house, and remains a consultant to Taylors Port.

His is not an easy schedule to pin down, but because he leads monthly tastings at the Hotel Bristol for an influential wine club of prominent businessmen, he's sure to be in Paris regularly.

And whenever he can, he heads to his country house in the southwest of France, in a region beyond Bordeaux known as Gascony.

"I earn my living by writing and talking about wine, so a visit in Paris would almost certainly involve participation in a wine tasting or a visit to a wine bar or two. But I have a number of other interests, particularly in the field of art and architecture. I trained as a painter in London and still break out the brushes from time to time. It also means that visits to buildings, museums and exhibitions are very much part of my life. Music also: jazz, blues, classic and music of the world. Cinema, dance and theatre on occasions also."

"On the sports side, rugby is my passion, but I doubt whether this would interest many guests, unless they are into American Football and curious to find out about this related game."

"Literature is another strong interest, and I am a jury member of a very minor literary prize (St. Emilion, Pomerol and Fronsac)"

Southwest France with David Cobbold

Up Close: 'Far From the Madding Crowd' - in Gascony

"When I come down here, I lead a quiet life. Our place in Gascony is a renovated farmhouse that sleeps ten. It lies on five acres in the middle of fields and rolling countryside, near a tiny village with a historic church. It's a simple place, but it does have two bathrooms, central heating and modern fittings. Françoise and I regularly come here for five or six weeks every summer, over Christmas, and again in spring, and for the odd long weekend in between."

"We're well-located, an hour from Toulouse, about 90 minutes from Bordeaux. We can have visitors stay here with us, or, if they're the type to love luxury, the top hotel in the area is Les Loges de l'Aubergade in the bastide town of Puymirol, about 20 miles away. Relais & Chateaux and all that. It's a lovely spot, beautifully situated on the hilltop. The Aubergade's restaurant won its third Michelin star a year ago; the chef, Michel Trama, is a genius."

"I can't promise any particular excitement once you get here, though. After all, this is where I come when I want to leave the frenzy behind. I write, I paint, I visit friends. James Lawther is an old friend, by the way; his place is only an hour away. And we can always cook up something!"

"It was a rare privilege to spend time with such a knowledgeable gentleman. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and advice."

— April & Fred Simba, Tulsa, Okla.

"Wow! What a polymath! A photographer, a painter, a gourmet, a wine expert. And the thing that always impresses Americans, impeccable manners! I found myself wishing he wasn't happily married (sigh)."

— Toni Martinez, Ventura, Calif.