St. Emilion, a region known for the humid, subtropical climate that contributes to the flavor of the wine, was our next stop. At Château Tertre Roteboeuf, one of the best winemakers in the region commandeers a unique operation. A nonconformist in an industry and a country both known for their adherence to specific rules, Francois Mitjaville eschews membership in the classification systems and trusts that the geography and topography of his land will continue to yield good wine under attentive stewardship. He let us sample wine right out of the barrel…and then invited us into his house. Of course, we couldn’t resist!