Dadyyyy, what are these grapevines in Paris ? Dadyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy, that’s true there is wine in Paris ? Hey daddy, why did you married with mummy ?

Daddy: “You see, my son, there was a period, in Paris, we could find wine not only in wines bar. In the XIIIe c., the francilien’s vineyard was one of the most important in Europe and in the XVIIIe, we take an inventory of 44 000 ha of grapevines in the modern Ile-de-France, in other words the Burgundy’s and Alsace’s vineyards combined. 

Sonny: “But others persist ? I saw one of thoses in the Bercy’s park !”

Daddy: “Yes, it’s still around 14 hectare. By the way, Bercy was, in the XIXe century, the biggest trade place for wine and spirits in the word !”

Sonny: “Daddy, stop drinking !”

Daddy: “It’s too early ! And to convince you, explore around the park and you will see the Pommard’s street, French Wines’ Place or the metro Saint-Emilion ! And today, the Paris’ city council maintains plenty of “legacies” vineyards, to remind this past and to conserve a part of this legacy.”

Sonny: “Daddy, I am really worried for you !”

Daddy: “OK, taht’s enough, take your jacket and let’s go !”

Daddy: “We are in front of the most famous Paris’s vineyards: the Clos Montmartre. Here, there is an old vinicultural tradition. Incidentally, the neighborhood of the “Goutte d’Or” (Drop of Gold), not far from here, comes from the colour of the white wine produced there. Since 1933, the famous “fête des vendanges” is prepared each second week-end of October, with auction sale !”

Sonny: “But except during the auction, can we buy it ?

Daddy: “I am concerned about this question according to your age, but NO ! Only the wine-growers with commercial vocation can sale its. And today, there is only one commercialized in Ile-de-France. But we will see tomorrow.“ 

Daddy: “Here, it’s a hidden local area: the Butte Bergeyre, near of the famous Buttes-Chaumont. Small vineyard planted in 1995, street of chaufourniers, in this amazing neighborhood. The people are glad of their district and created a website to accentuate and preserve this islet: http: //www.habitants-bergeyre.fr/fr.

Sonny: “He is strong my daddy !”

Daddy: “No, it’s nothing… 😉 “

Daddy: “Another vineyard is hidden in the most beautiful Paris’ park: Belleville. Here, we produced the famous “Piquette” !

Sonny: “yuk !!! It’s disgusting !

Daddy: “No, at that time (XVe-XVIe c.), it meaned a young wine, light and sparkling. But taste changed, then the meaning also ! Today, the “Clos des Envierges” produces a rose, mainly with Pinot Meunier.”

Sonny: “But if we can’t buy it, the employees of “green space” drink all ? 

Daddy: “They didn’t look like alcoholic…;-) In fact, the mayor keeps the production for him…sorry, for special events like the garden party in Belleville, the last week-end of September. At that time, everybody can taste ! And the people are glad that their area produces wine…

Daddy: “We will conclude by the “Clos des Morillons” in the park Georges Brassens, old wine-growing area and place of Vaugirard’s slaughterhouses. This spacious park includes also a educational apiary to make children sensitive to bees. And we could continue.”

Sonny: “Why, there are others vineyards ?”

Daddy: “Oh yeah ! In Paris-Bagatelle, privatized grapevines by Xavier Privat-Charvin, “La Défense” (photos) or more in the “Jardin des Plantes”. Without take on board particular vines stocks…sometimes banned varieties”. 

Sonny: “But why there aren’t grapevines any more ?”

Daddy: “That’s a good question ! There 3 main reasons. First, there was the devastating effect of the phylloxera, in the second part of XIXe centuyry. Second, the urbanization of the capital city: 500 000 people in 1800, 2 900 000 in 1914 ! Finally, the decline of the wine quality in Paris, to favour the quantity (like Isabelle, Baco or Noah varieties) combined with the beginning of the railway bringing wines of others regions, more qualitative, with competitive prices (compare with fluvial transport) is the last reason.”

Sonny: “I will go to the bed less stupid !”

Daddy: “And tomorrow, we will cros the ring, to see Ile-de-France, meeting wine-growers and employees of “green space” ! Meanwhile, this is a map published in 2005, measuring all the grapewines in Ile-de-France !”

Sonny: “Sorry daddy, I won’t tell any more that you are silly…”

Daddy: “Ultimately, you may be right: I am married with your mother !”