Paris in antiquity is worth remembering. In the 4th century, the French capital already bore its present name (derived from the Gallic Parisii tribe), and its vineyards, started by the Romans about 300 years before, produced wines that were just as renowned as Bordeaux wines. As he stayed in Paris, the Prefect of the Gauls Julian the Apostate, who later became Roman emperor, praised the Montmartre wine, contributing to a reputation that still holds today. Over the centuries, Paris vineyards extended to reach a maximum of 900 acres in the 18th century. They have largely decreased since. Today, they cover about one acre, according to the Vignerons Franciliens Réunis (Ile-de-France Winemaker Association).
The Main Vineyards in Paris
Stepped on a slope, at the metro stop Anvers, the Montmartre vineyard is the largest in Paris. To find it easily, all you need is to locate the intersection of the Rue des Saules and the Rue Saint-Vincent. The vines are composed of no fewer than 30 different types of grapes, the Gamay and the Pinot Noir being prevalent, as they grow readily in the climate of Paris. Every year, the harvest gives some 900 bottles of Clos Montmartre, the famous Montmartre wine.
Unknown to most visitors, the Parc Georges Brassens houses the second largest vineyard in Paris, at the metro stop Convention. Planted along the Rue des Morillons, the Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier vines produce yearly 300 bottles of Clos Morillons. The wine is named after the neighbour street, whereas "Clos" refers to the walls surrounding the vineyard.
A former village detached from Paris, Belleville has a long tradition of wine-making. This is where the Ginguet was made in the 18th and 19th centuries. This light white wine was served in the Ginguettes, typical cabarets situated outside the capital to avoid the Parisian tax on wine. The 600 sq. yd. Belleville vineyard rekindles the tradition of the Ginguet, with its grapes of Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay giving a few bottles of white wine every year. The vines are nestled in the Parc de Belleville, with the metro stop Couronnes located nearby.
Paris Best Wine Festivals
In Paris, the Marathon des Leveurs de Coude is a competition of its own. The entrants to this spring wine-tasting race (May 23rd in 2011), must have a sip at 42 different bars, in about 3 hours. The bars are located in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district, historically known for its irreverence to bourgeois traditions. Dressed as for a carnival, the wine tasters make sure to entertain the crowd in between sips, and they do it with hefty humor. Salacious jokes, wine perfused sicker and prehistoric costumes are all part of the day.
Another famous wine festival in Paris is the Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre. This grape-harvest festival is set for the second weekend of October. The Montmartre brotherhood turns the clock back in the vineyard, with a costume parade to the beat of drums. Then, more musicians and entertainers join in, and the parade goes round the district. All you have to do is to follow them all, and you will be invited to taste wine and local products on the way. In the evening, shows and bals are given at the foot of the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, and impressive fireworks top up the event.
Autumn is the best time for wine festivities, and Parisians celebrate with glee the Fête du Beaujolais Nouveau on the third Thursday of November (November 17th in 2011). The Beaujolais wine is made from Gamay in the Beaujolais region, north of Lyon. It is more than appreciated in Paris, as fans crowd the bars to taste the new wine at the stroke of midnight. Every year, the new Beaujolais is assessed for its specific aromas. As it is light and fruity, it is also lavishly consumed, along with bites of cheese and delicatessen. If you like it, you can have it again in the following days. Paris and the rest of France enjoy the new Beaujolais for a good week or so.
Sources
- "La Renaissance de la Viticulture Francilienne, un Avenir à Partager", Vigneronsfranciliens.fr (accessed April 10, 2011).
- "Les Vignes de Montmartre", Montmartrenet.com (accessed April 10, 2011).
- "Le Parc de Belleville", Mairie20.paris.fr (accessed April 10, 2011).
- "Montmartre Fête l'Humour", Fetedesvendangesdemontmartre.com (accessed April 10, 2011).
- "La Fête du Beaujolais Nouveau", Destination-beaujolais.com (accessed April 10, 2011).
