Rutgers-Microbiology and Culture of Cheese and Wine

What a great experience!!

I cannot believe that my journey in Cluny has ended. It was a once in a lifetime experience. 

This journey has ended with treasures of knowledge and life-long friendships. In the beginning, I was afraid of having difficulties getting along with my peers and getting used to the place and the time zone. Thankfully, my fears were not accurate at all. 

My peers were amazing and felt like I have another family there, the place was great, the people were so lovely, and the structure of the program was so efficient and provided us with a great learning experience. 

This program has completely changed my perspective on cheese and wine and the vital role of microbes and yeasts in our daily life. The program has not only changed that, But It has also had an impact on my personal life as well. I was able to face my fears and learn more and more about my self. 

One of the highlights of this program is the Abbey of Cluny and the historic Patrimoine and ancient culture of the town that took us back to the 13th century. Another one is our visit to the vineyards and wineries where we were introduced to the process of winemaking as well as tasting wine from differently years aged barrels. Our three days excursion was also one of the most important highlights in this program where we covered many essential aspects in the making of cheese and wine, visiting historical wineries such as Chateau du Clos de Vougeot, wine and cheese cooperatives, and the historical and cultural monuments of Dijon.

Another thing we were able to attend that has never crossed my mind is the Feminine Horse Ball Championship at which I had so much fun! 

I highly recommend students to apply to study-abroad opportunities and to take advantage of the help provided by the office of RU Study-Abroad. This class was one of the most fun, enjoyable, excellent, and well-advanced courses I have ever taken.

    After long, exciting two days in Dijon and Arbois, we headed to Saint-Laurent en Grand Vaux and drove through the Jura mountains. We visited the Fruitiere de Grand Revier, which is a cooperative cheese dairy where we observed the process of making and aging Comte and Morbier Cheese. We also had a tour inside the cheesery and the storage place where they aged their cheeses and saw how the new technology is used in salting and flipping cheeses through robots. 

Then we headed to our fourth picnic’s location – Baume Les Messieurs- one of the most beautiful valleys I have ever seen!!

We had our picnic and visited the village and the abbey which goes back to the 16th century.

     

Before going back to Cluny, we stopped by the Fruitiere Viticole de Voiteur – The Jura Wine Cooperative – where we visited their winery and tasted their famous Vin Jaune. We met one of the oners who explained how this specific wine is different from any other one and it can only be made in the Jura Mountains by a very specific bacteria. 

Then, we went back to the beautiful Cluny!

Out of Cluny!

 

    After a week and a half of staying in Cluny, it is time for our excursion.

DAY 1: 

We left Cluny Sejour and headed to the Cote d’Or which is known for its golden slopes of vineyards. First, we stopped at the Gaugry Cheese Dairy, where we closely observed Epoisse cheese making before tasting five different kinds of delicious cheeses. 

Chateau du Clos de Vougeot, which is a 12th-century winery and one of the most prestigious ones in France nowadays, is now owned by 81 producers. In this winery, the club of wine has been established, and now it includes many of the most famous and prestigious personalities in France and the world. 

Then, we went to Dijon!!

Dijon was so marvelous with all the historical monuments, culture, and rich heritage. We stayed there for the night. Our hotel, Odalys city – Appart’Hotel, had a very rich history in the ancient ages with a 13th-century church in the back of the hotel.  

During our stay in Dijon, we had the chance to walk around the town. We visited its medieval buildings and palaces which are now used as governments’ public buildings, the old streets, Notre Dame de Dijon, and many more..

I was amazed by their marvelous architecture, stained windows and the way they curved such fabulous buildings. 

And day one had ended very well with the most delicious Boeuf!!

DAY 2: 

    After a great breakfast in one of best Dijon’s cafes.

We had a small tour in “Les Halles” – which is the central covered market in Dijon where people from around the area do their weekly shopping from cheeses to meats to fruits and vegetables. In addition, to socializing with each other. 

After that, we headed to Salins Les Bains, where we had our third picnic and visited Gran salina de Salins-Les-Bains where the salt works had happened in the late 17th century and how they used to extract salt from water in the medieval ages. We went down to the underground cave where ancient machines were built in the medieval ages to make the process of salt-making more efficient.

Arbois – the hometown of Louis Pasteur, the father of Microbiology was our next destination!

Where we had the chance to visit the vineyard Pasteur used to test Lactic acid bacteria. We also visited his statue in the center of the town and his house and laboratory. It was pretty amazing to see the equipment he used when discovering one of the sciences significant evolutions and where the history of Microbiology was made. 

We also visited the vineyards where Pasteur had his first experiments on lactic acid bacteria.

Personally, I can easily say that this part of the excursion was one of my favorite.  

And of course, we will not end the day without the best Fondue au Comte!!

Every Saturday the people of Cluny have their weekly market “Le Marche” where people from Cluny and around the region sell their local goods. People were selling all kinds of local vegetables, fruits, cheeses, wines, meats, patisseries, nuts, flowers, cloth, shoes, and furniture. Foreigners and locals visit this market to shop for the best out there. People also go the market to communicate and socialize with each other. This has been a weekly tradition in Cluny where people shop, meet, and exchange conversations.

   

Another thing is going on in Cluny right now is the Feminine Horse Ball championship. We visited the stadium and watched one of the games which was so amazing! It is such an interesting and fun sport to watch. We also visited “Haras National de Cluny” which is the National Stud Farm in Cluny. It was a great visit, the place is rich in history that goes back way far beyond the 19th Century with a variety of original horse breeds.