School · Dijon

Dijon University: Pilgrimage to Clone Zero

Name: Dijon University: Pilgrimage to Clone Zero
Address: Dijon, Burgundy, FR
Price range: Low

Dr. Raymond Bernard cracked Burgundy's viral crisis in the 1950s via clonal selection at Dijon University. From Jean-Marie Ponsot's Clos-de-la-Roche buds came Dijon 113, 114, 115 (1971), 667 (1980), 777 (1981)—the genes that rebuilt Pinot Noir.

What to do there

CulturalDijon University: Pilgrimage to Clone ZeroEvery Pinot Noir clone number - 115, 667, 777, 828 - traces back to one place: the University of Burgundy in Dijon. In the 1950s-70s, French enologists identified the healthiest, most expressive Pinot strains and assigned them catalog numbers. Clone 777 was literally the 777th vine certified. This pilgrimage takes you to where modern clone science began - and then rewards you with the wines in the covered market where Burgundy's growers still shop.

Wineries nearby

Winery · Gevrey-Chambertin Napoleon's Chambertin: Walk the Emperor's Vineyard Napoleon drank Chambertin daily, diluted with water from embossed bottles marked "N"—this 9-Grand Cru cluster rivals any vineyard on Earth for plums, earth, spice, and imperial provenance across Gevrey-Chambertin slopes.
Winery · Gevrey-Chambertin Domaine Armand Rousseau Armand Rousseau opened this Gevrey-Chambertin estate in the 1920s.
Winery · Burgundy Domaine Ponsot Five generations of Ponsot family winemakers since 1872 — their Morey-Saint-Denis Clos des Monts-Luisants Vieilles Vignes ages 50+ years in bottle.