France: Dijon Spends $1.7m Of City's Funds on Vineyard

(Wine-Searcher) - Already renowned for its mustard production, the city of Dijon is now trying to cement its position as a wine center.

The city council has announced that it has purchased a 160-hectare vineyard and farm with the aim of “consolidating its status and its image as a winemaking city.” The capital of the Burgundy region, Dijon is located less than 20 minutes' drive from some of the most famous vineyards of the Côte de Nuits.

The acquisition of Domaine de la Cras "represents a 1.3 million euro ($1.76 million) investment for the Dijon area,” the council noted in a statement.

First planted in 1983, Domaine de la Cras lies to the west of Dijon city and has eight hectares of vines – five of pinot noir and three of chardonnay. The size of the vineyard could be increased by another 13 hectares as a result of the city's ownership and the wines will be sold under the Bourgogne appellation.

The running of the domaine will be entrusted to Marc Soyard, who is currently vineyard manager at Domaine Jean-Yves Bizot in Vosne Romanée. He will take a “natural approach to viticulture,” according to the council statement.

“Each year, the community will produce 2,000 bottles. The labels will show that it is a wine made in Dijon, which was recently named a 'city of gastronomy.'"