New wine allure for Dijon and the Côte-d'Or

While Dijon was always worth the trip for its urban charms, it is even more so with the opening of the Cité internationale de la gastronomie et du vin (International City of Gastronomy and Wine). Indeed, for lovers of wine and good food, it is reason enough. We actually only went for that, but while we were there ... Anyway, we also picked up a series of special (wine) addresses in the Côte-d'Or. It was a trip not soon to be forgotten. - TEXT + IMAGE KEES VERPLANKE

New wine allure for Dijon and the Côte-d'Or

Dijon's car-free centre exudes a lovely atmosphere on my arrival on Sunday. Except for souvenir shops and a few wine shops, most other shops are closed. By contrast, the terraces are pleasantly lively and the squares - especially the semi-circular Place de la Libereration - have children playing in fountains. A wine tasting in the historic vaults of Hôtel du Palais proves a pleasant start to the visit to the city. Young sommelier Robin Fussy guides me through six fine Bourgognes from small, well-regarded winemakers. Successively, we taste a 'plain' white Burgundy 2020 from Fanny Sabre, a Mâcon-Villages du Grappin 2019, a Chablis Broc de Biques 2019 and a Pinot Noir Les Grandes Carelles 2018. My favourites are a Beaune Premier Cru by Fanny Sabre and a Corton Grand Cru Maison en Belles Lies 2017 by biologist Pierre Fénals, who did not start making wine until he was 52.

Mustard

In Dijon, Abraham makes the mustard himself and so do we. We learn this in Edmond Fallot's historic mustard kitchen. While in the Middle Ages there were more than 300 mustard makers who made Dijon a true mustard city, now there are three.

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Are you curious to know more about Dijon? Read about it in WINELIFE Magazine 79. Order this one here!

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