After we arrived on Friday, we traveled to Burgundia Oenologie, a wine consulting agency located in nearby Beaune. While there, we learned the scientific side of the winemaking process, and all the work that goes into creating the perfect glass of red or white. Once we finished our
tour, we went to the local supermarket to pick up food for dinner, and most importantly, Époisses de Bourgogne, the runny cheese that the region is known for. We proceeded to cook dinner with the six of us, and enjoyed it with a glass of wine while sitting by a huge fireplace that was built in 1678. The next morning, we traveled into Beaune for breakfast and a trip to the local market outside of the famous Hospices. As we purchased fresh meats, cheeses, breads, and vegetables from the local vendors for dinner, we came across a stand boasting more than 15 different types of oysters. In very broken French, we managed to get a free sample or two,
which were well worth the effort. We also came across an old Citroen, and the owner, an older woman whom we had met while at the market, let us take a couple of pictures around the car—of course, any photo-shoot in Burgundy requires a bottle of wine and a baguette. After that, the Apelians hosted a lunch at a local restaurant, and we had the opportunity to try escargots and Beef bourguignon. We finished our night by attending a tasting of wines and cheeses from the region in the center of town. We also got to watch a local group perform a traditional dance while we walked around. On Sunday, we spent the day touring through the vineyards of Volnay and the local villages. Because harvest had just been completed a few weeks earlier, the vines were green, orange, red, and yellow, and looked more like a painting than real life. We then enjoyed a lunch consisting of a buffet of fresh cheeses and breads, accompanied by local fig paste and a bottle of wine while overlooking the Clos de Vougeot. There is something special about enjoying some of the world’s greatest foods while looking over the land where it was all made. This was certainly a fitting end to the weekend of a lifetime, but made it that much more difficult to say goodbye.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
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