No we are not talking the heroine of the Charlotte Bronte novel here set in northern England, but a dynamic Australian who produces wine in Burgundy. This Jane Eyre originates from Melbourne! Jane had been working as a hairdresser for 10 years when, in 1998 at the age of 26, she asked a client if they knew of any wineries where she could find work experience. The client was the wife of the wine writer Jeremy Oliver, who recommended Burgundy, and later that year Jane was in France at Domaine Chevrot in the heart of the Côte d'Or, working for Christopher Newman, the American owner of the domaine. She basically fell in love with the country and Burgundy and this was the style of wine she wanted to make. On returning home she met Philip Rich, the wine retailer, writer, educator and wine show judge, who got her a job at his Prince Wine Store, and she coupled this with studying winemaking at Charles Sturt University. After working vintages in Australia at Cullen in Margaret River, and New Zealand at Felton Road and Alta Rangi, Jane set off for Europe again. She worked with Ernie Loosen in the Mosel for three months which in 2004 led to a job in her beloved Burgundy at Domaine des Comtes Lafon. An assistant winemaker post at Domaine Newman was next, while Jane built up a successful négociant business. She was the first woman to wine the prestigious Trader of the Year title from the “ Revue des Vins de France”. Since 2011 Jane has shared a small winery with Dominique Lafon in Bligny-lès-Beaune. Jane says that she chose Pinot Noir because with that grape variety “you can't hide anything” - it is an extremely expressive and aromatic variety, and that is what she adores about it. Her style is elegant and not over-extracted. These are wines with finesse that showcase the soil and the vintage, and one woman's love for this most capricious of grape varieties.