New beginnings, moving to Dijon

After spending the past five and a half years at sea, I decided it was time for a new challenge. This time I moved myself to the French town of Dijon, in the heart of the Burgundy region. Here, I will spend the next academic year getting my masters degree in wine and spirits management. I will also obviously try to discover as much as I can of the surrounding areas.

 

 

 

So why exactly Dijon? The entire Burgundy region is known as a epicentre of food, culture and most importantly wine. Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays are the main varieties, but also Aligoté which is a white wine made from the aligoté grapes. They also make Crème de Cassis – a sweet liqueur made from blackcurrants, which along with Aligoté are the two main ingredients for Kir, the regions signature drink. In fact Kir became popular after the Second World War when the mayor of Dijon offered it as a welcome drink to visitors. This tradition still exists today. During our first week of school all the international students were invited to the city hall where the mayor welcomed us with a glass of Kir.

 

 

 

Visiting vineyards and tasting their wines, has become one of my favourite pastimes. I am not alone – many of the international students share this interest. Every weekend we try to visit a different vineyard. We live close to the famous Route des Grands Crus, which is the most picturesque way to get to the vineyards. This also allows us to see how the vineyards change according to the landscape, seasons and the work of the growers. It is so interesting to visit the different vineyards, they all definitely have their own identities which is reflected in their wines.

 

 

 

 

Dijon is oh so far away from the ocean – but the town and region definitely has its qualities. I cannot wait to bring you all along on my new adventure.