Dijon

Dijon is dead on a Sunday. And notably clean.
Unbelievably clean actually.
Not even a leaf on the floor.
I’m not sure if it rained or if they literally mopped the whole city. I think they internationally wet it.
Immaculate.
We enjoyed our breakfast because it was free, ha, then went to the meeting spot which was at an old English phone booth so easy to find.
We were joined by a couple from the USA (dude lives in Japan) and our guide drove up to get us.
Her name is Ann and I really liked her.
Ann can talk holy moly. We didn’t actually leave the meeting spot for a good 15 minutes cause she was explaining regions and wine types and showing us all sorts of maps.
It was far too advanced for me, she needed to start with picture A “this is a grape”.

I enjoyed when people explain with translations

Says something in English, flips to French with such ENTHUSIASM and finishes with “you see!”
Like they have explained something…

I swear I have an auditory processing issue when it comes to accents. I can’t hear you.
Stop putting your beautiful trill on words. I don’t know what word you are saying. I need bogan sound please so I know what the letters in the words are
She was talking about some man and then Will staterted talking about Louis Vuitton and that’s when I was able to understand her version of the name and that’s who she had been talking about.
Not with 100 guesses would I have got Louis Vuitton on my own.
I need subtitles. I can read very well. I can’t hear you though. 😆😆😆

She was so passionate. So it was a little stressful to have her driving. She talks with her hands and makes eye contact. Watch the road!!! 😆😆😆
Still 800% better than Paris but I was still hyper aware.
We drove to a lookout first over some vineyards.
I’m trying to think back to information I learnt today and it’s just so much I can’t organize it so dot points it is: (all potentially wrong btw cause she got super technical and there were a bunch of exceptions…
But best we can do is:
- there are different wine classifications. Grand Crus is the best in the region. It’s a lot of effort to get their stamp or whatever. It’s then Premium Crus, Village appellations and Regional appellations.
- the grapes are the same for the whole area. One for white, one for red (we think - I have just checked with Will and that’s his understanding too )
What differs is the plot it is grown in. It’s all about location and that’s what the label says. Vintage (year), type of wine classification (only for top levels), plot name and wine maker.
- There are always exceptions but all whites are Chardonnay.
- Lots of families own just a few rows.
- worth MEGABUCKS.

We drove past the Romanee-Conti vineyard which produces one of the most/the most expensive bottles of wine in the world. An average $18,000 a bottle. The 1945 bottle sells for over $500,000.
So, just pocket change really.
Got a picture with the sign. The closest I will ever be to having some 😆
We drove for what felt like ages.
Got to wine tasting number 1 at the Moillard winery. Opened 1850.
This one is considered very big for the area. We went down to the tasting room and had 6 tastings. 2 whites and 4 reds.
Along with my brain my nose is also broken.
I’m sure people are making crap up.
“oh yes I smell the oak and a hint of cherry, maybe raspberry.”

Smells like wine but ok.
I can smell that they smell slightly different to each other but they don’t smell like fruit.
The American lady, who was Asian but American
(this is relevant cause tour guide misunderstood that she was not the one living in Japan so kept speaking to her as if she was all in the know about everything Asian and it was a little awkward cause she clearly didn’t view herself as Asian 😅)
Bragged about having a sensitive nose and reckons she could smell meat.
I hope not.
Side note she has the WORST teeth. It is odd to m when people are dressed in high fashion stuff, full face of make up, fake eyelashes but have rotted teeth. Does this not bother you?

Anyway.

I didn’t LOVE any of them but all were nice. Able to drink all of them.

There was a big map on the wall with all the different plots which was helpful so when we tried new wine we read the bottle and found on the map which zone and plot it came from. The Americans bought a bottle.

We then drove to Beaune (pronounced Bone/ Bourne) we were going to do a day trip there so we were pleased it was included in the tour. We had nearly 2 hours free there. It was both a positive and negative that it’s the busiest weekend of the entire year. There is like a auction for wines for the hospital and they raise MILLIONS.
People from all over come. And come they did.
We were starving but it was so packed. After a long while we found somewhere and both tried their traditional beef stew. Not as saucy as I’d like but pleased to have the chance to try a local specialty. They had escargot which we said we would try this time around. It was only 9€ for 6 and if it wasn’t a drinking day I would have done it. Did not want to vomit snail.
We were also freezing. But no indoor seats 😩
We will have to buy Will a new jacket soon too.
Hopefully we find a Black Friday sale lol.

We then got a crepe each and walked back towards the car.
The auction had started so saw some of that which was cool.
Guide told us first 2 barrels sold for 18,000 and 19,000 each.
They have 836 barrels to sell……
And the final barrel is different (couldn’t remember why but Will has said it’s because it’s the wine the hospital makes itself) and sold for $800,000 last year.
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS.
Must be the best bloody hospital in the world haha.

The stalls looked interesting - cheeses, soaps, meats etc.
We were early so we walked with the guide to get the car she parked a little walk away. Keen to get back in the heated vehicle asap.
My only regret for beaune is the reason we were originally going there was to see hospice but couldn’t get to it because of the auction.
In reality seeing the auction take place is more special.
I did see the pretty roof from the car hah.

Drove to our next and final wine tasting.
The drive was probably my favourite part of the tour.
It was charming.
Love the villages. Love the never ending vines. Love the limestone buildings and walls. Loves it all.
The second tasting was in a private residence in Fixin.
She whipped out a key and we walked down the stairs into an AWESOME cellar.
We had 7 tastings here.
2 whites. Too crisp for my liking, I like dessert wines.
Then 5 reds. One of them at least was the top tier label.
It was only meant to be 6 tastings all up but she was like you can have one more so asked Will to help open her cork screw, wine pouring thing because it needed a new cartridge and he broke it 😬😬😬

She was so put out.
Just talking to herself that it is so expensive. I shouldn’t have asked you to help me. What do I do.
She was trying to problem solve.

And we were just sitting there veryyyy uncomfortably.
I was waiting for her to tell us we had to pay.

Lucky she didn’t cause a quick google and they sell anywhere between €250 - €4000 and it was the wine cellar owners so I wouldn’t be surprised it it was a top level one 🫠

She mentioned that she didn’t know what to do because she didn’t know if any other groups were due to come through.. they wouldn’t be ale to sample if they did…
Eek!
She found a different, nearly empty bottle to pour us instead so was able to open fully without compromising the remaining wine.

Then old mate America was like if we all chip more money can we try another wine.
Buddy, Don’t sign me up for paying more money without asking me. This is already nearly double what we had planned to pay.
Because no I don’t want to pay, I’m more than satisfied with my 13 samples.
I thought it was really presumptuous and rude.
Thankfully she said no hahaha wooooo.

He bought 12 bottles to have shipped to Japan for $700.
Excellent day, but the wine was not THAT good. Crickey.

We then drove home, it had started to drizzle. Guide was crap taking about Chinese guests and even Will said when we got out the car how uncomfortable because the woman is probably Chinese heritage not Japanese like she misunderstood her to be. Just bagging on her grandma 😆
Anyways we made it out, paid then went to dinner.
Had to get a translator.
I’m sure I mention this every single trip - Will is not good at talking to people who struggle with English.
Stop with the full sentences.
Use less words.

This evenings example of not everyone speaks is -
Will to the waiter : is this steak?
Waiter responds in French ****** clearly does not speak English if is speaking to us in French.
So I asked him “do you speak English?
He replied very poorly “little”
So Will starts asking him what type of cut the meat is? Is it rump, sirloin?
Babe he doesn’t speak English. If he doesn’t know what “steak” is he doesn’t know rump.
The waiter then got another staff member to help.
Like duh.
It then became a very uncomfortable scene cause fest waiter was in a mood.
I was also hyper paranoid because we were sitting between people and I despise being over heard when I want to ask questions. So we both settled and quickly selected and both hated our meals.
His steak was burnt on the top and mooing in the middle.
He tried some of my goats cheese and now refused to try again.

Back home and keen for bed. Slept terrible last night and I determined the problem around 7am.
The bed is too slippery which sounds like the most ridiculous problem but it honestly is.
I want to sleep with my knee up and it keeps slipping down and I’m getting the shits. Could not get comfortable all night. Genuinely nearly fell out the bed a few times.
I have laid down a towel under me for tonight.

Forgot to add one of the wines we tried came from Les Damodes which is a plot on the border of the most expensive. So like 50m max way.
I think this counts 😆Leia mais