Paris, the wine capital of the world

And with the Olympic Games, it is currently the sport capital of the world

Jul 25, 2024

Paris, the City of Light, is most often celebrated for its art, culture, and cuisine but its dominant role in the global wine industry is, in our humble opinion, even more compelling. Before the Romans, the Gauls. Before the Gauls, the Parisi. After the Romans, the church with Abbeys & Monasteries, supported and seconded by the Aristocracy. After the Revolution, the People. With the people, industry and commerce, and up until two centuries ago, the Paris region had grown to become the largest wine producing region on the planet. Today, hipsters, natural winebars, and the largest and broadest range of professional wine tastings anywhere in the world.

The following is quoted from Chris Mercer in Decanter June 22, 2016:

More wine is drunk in Paris than in any other city, according to new research on the biggest wine drinking cities released by France’s INSEEC business school. It crowned Paris as ‘the world capital of wine’.
Parisians drink the equivalent of 697 million bottles of wine per year, according to the stats, which were compiled with help from the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV).
That’s almost 69 bottles per person over the age of 15 annually, although of course Paris also receives many tourists throughout the year – many of whom combine wine and travel.
Paris is the only French city on the list.

Although Parisians, like people everywhere, practice a very broad range of sports on a regular basis, and there has been a significant rise in the number of joggers and cyclists over the past few years, the oft pallid, smoke-addicted, café idling, philosophically relaxed population (when they’re not participating in demonstrations or leaning on their horns) conjures a culture of intellectuals who wouldn’t know one side of a football from the other. The general emphasis on art, museum culture, fashion, fine dining, quality of life and the opulent ostentations of luxury don’t immediately conjure sport or automatically make us think of Paris as a sport capital of the world. And yet, it has a very long history with sport and according to Betting.US (and other top communication agencies such as BCW - Burson Cohn & Wolfe) it is indeed one of the sport capitals of the world:

Paris is often renowned more for its art, fashion, and cuisine, but the French capital is also steeped in sporting history and culture. Soccer is the most popular sport in Paris, and the city’s biggest club, Paris Saint-Germain, has become a major player in recent years. Its world-class squad plays at the iconic Parc des Princes stadium, and the city has a rich history with soccer; it hosted matches during the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2016 tournaments.
Tennis is another top sport in Paris. The French Open is held annually at the Stade Roland Garros. Cycling is also huge, as the final stage of the Tour de France concludes along the famous Champs-Élysées, while the Olympics will soon come to the city, with Paris scheduled to host the 2024 summer extravaganza. Other notable events include the Paris Marathon and the French Open golf tournament.

It is very apparent for people living in Paris that with the Olympics coming to town, there has been a sudden surge of interest in, as well as participation in, sporting activities throughout the capital. But there is also a certain resistance and lack of interest among others with concerns about the disruptive nature of this mega-event.

Access to the Seine, Notre Dame and the islands require a ‘Pass Jeux’. Metal fences have been set up everywhere to block access, here by the rue de Bievre. Photo taken on 20 July.

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Pro: Many Parisians are excited about hosting the Olympic Games, seeing it as a unique opportunity for the city to showcase itself on a global stage. This group tends to appreciate the potential economic boost, infrastructural improvements, and the celebratory atmosphere that such an event can bring.

These are the same people who represent a noticeable increase in sporting activities and enthusiasm for sports. This surge is partly due to the city's promotional efforts and the general buzz surrounding the Olympics. New sports facilities and public engagement initiatives have encouraged more people to take up sports and participate in related events.

Con: On the other side, there is apathy and disinterest with a significant portion of Parisians showing a lack of interest in the Olympic Games. If they’ve not already left, they are planning to leave. For these people, which includes individuals who are not sports enthusiasts or those who are indifferent to large-scale events, the event is seen as irrelevant to their daily lives, and they do not perceive any direct benefits.

They also express concerns about the financial burden and potential disruptions caused by the games. They argue that the cost of hosting the Olympic Games is too high and that the funds could be better spent on other public services. Additionally, there are worries about increased traffic, security issues, and the general inconvenience of hosting such a massive event, which includes significant loss of revenue for all of those businesses in the zones that require a ‘Pass Jeux’, as this diminishes access significantly.

In Between: Then there are those who are cautiously optimistic, hoping that the Games will bring positive changes, while remaining vigilant about potential drawbacks. This group supports the event in principle but advocates for responsible planning and management to mitigate negative impacts.

Overall, the division among Parisians reflects a broader debate about the costs and benefits of hosting the Olympic Games, with strong opinions on both sides of the spectrum.

And what about Paris as the wine capital of the world in all of this? It may be assumed that some sport aficianados are also wine lovers and that the opportunities for celebrating the triumphs of their favourite athletes, or the medals won by their respective countries, might include the occasional glass of wine. Although it is still too early to tell how consumption may be effected during this (officially) alcohol-free event, the impact on Paris's wine community of winebars, wine shops, tour operators (Paris Wine Walks among them!) and restaurants may be significant. And by that we mean either disastrous or highly beneficial.

We have decided to remain on the optimistic side and so despite the very disappointing drop in bookings of the past two months, are looking forward to being surprised by a deluge of last-minute bookings that will keep us walking, talking, thinking, clinking and drinking throughout the games.

Tomorrow is the official opening of the Olympic Games in Paris and we will be here for the duration to help anyone interested in discovering the real story of Paris (which is wine) to do so by joining us on any one of our walks or tastings. We look forward to hearing from you and to sharing some of the best of Paris with you! Santé!

PS If you’re looking for a more in-depth wine experience, we are still short a couple of people for our Burgundy - Beaujolais wine tour 30 Sept - 6 October.

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Paris, the wine capital of the world

And with the Olympic Games, it is currently the sport capital of the world

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