We wish you all a very...
...mirthful, joyful, merry, happy holiday, and we thank you!
We have hosted over 700 people this year on our wine walks, tastings, and tours, and would like to thank each and every one of you for supporting us, and for ‘taking a walk on the vine side’!
Thank you!!!
As the year comes to a close, it’s not too late to offer the gift of experience or book a celebratory wine walk. We are open for bookings on the 30th and the 31st of December, so you can still sneak in a walk before 2025.
A little background
Was it ever my intention to spend the better part of my life in France? Not really, but I don’t suppose I’ve really tried very hard to resist the draw this beautiful land has on the senses. I’m writing from the south of France where I’ve come to share some of the festive season with my god-daughter and her family. And to remember what it feels like to have sun on the skin!
Paris has been interminably grey, wet, and dreary. Which is to be expected this time of year. But this year seems to have been especially wet, which, as already mentioned in my post of 10 October, has lead to the sixth worst year for wine in two hundred years. So, what has kept me here?
Is it the wine?
It is undeniable that wine has been a constant in my life since I arrived in France. I have been leading wine and gastronomic tours all over France (and Europe) for over 30 years. My first year in France was in a vineyard in the Côtes de Castillon near St-Emilion in the Bordeaux region of the country. Working in a vineyard—the only organic vineyard within a very great radius—was one of the happiest years of my life. I grew very fond of vines, and having worked the soil, I was also anchored to it. Which is perhaps part of the reason I still live in France. That attachment to vines is also what propelled me to explore the vineyards of Paris, of which, like the vast majority of Parisians, I knew little.
I began by visiting the city’s main vineyards, all of which are rarely visited or even noticed by those passing by. They are like most green spaces, simply enjoyed for their cool, shady greenery, and often too discreet to stand out. But once I started delving into the history of Paris and its vineyards, I was devoted. It became my mission to find every collection of vines in the city and learn their story, which resulted in my book ‘The Hidden Vineyards of Paris’.
I started inviting people to join me on walks to these hidden vineyards in 2015, so 2025 will mark the 10th anniversary of Paris Wine Walks. During that time, I have continued to research the story of Paris and wine, and continue to make new discoveries. In the summer of 2020 I visited 60 of the 200 or so vineyards that can be found in the Île-de-France. This too was an eye-opener, as it was then that I discovered the true extent of the wine history of Paris. The largest vineyard region in the entire world!? Who knew?
Paris Wine Walks is the only wine touring company in Paris that includes visits to the city’s hidden vineyards. In addition, we are the only ones to tell you the real story of Paris, which is wine. If you haven’t already, join us to discover the wine history of the world’s wine epicentre while enjoying this greener side of the city.
Paris Wine Walks - Modus Operandi
Booking a wine walk is very straight forward as you can do so directly on the Paris Wine Walks website. But what do you get?
A lot.
In addition to the wine history of Paris, a background to viticulture, the importance of living soils, historical anecdotes about each quarter (both wine and culture related) along with their specific vineyard histories, we include blind tastings of wines made with grapes that are still among the most common to be found in the Paris region.
Why blind tasting? Because wine is about labels, it’s about branding and marketing, and when you don’t know what you have in your glass, you’re obliged to focus your attention to determine whether what you are tasting is good or bad, whether you like it or not, and whether you are able to identify any characteristics that might help you recognise grape varietal or region.
As we are committed to working only with living wines from living vines (biodynamic, natural, organic) we will never poison you. This extends to the rustic fermented breads we choose, the organic seasonal vegetables, and exquisite (mostly unpasteurised cheeses) that accompany all of our tastings.
Conviviality is a big part of the experience and sharing the pleasures of real wines with real people truly make our wine walk experiences complete. The real stars are you!
So join us and become part of a growing community of people who have discovered how wine built Paris, and how the vineyards of Paris can play a significant role in understanding the true history of the wine capital of the world.
Paris is alive again with the restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral. With Paris Wine Walks, you can also discover the role wine played in the creation of the gothic style… We look forward to hosting you in these last days of 2024, and throughout the coming year, so book now!
Our sincere best wishes for the happiest of holidays and a joyful 2025!
Santé!
Thank you for letting me into your world and for reading the Paris Wine Walks Substack. Your support is invaluable as are your comments, suggestions, critiques, dreams, thoughts and remembrances. A little encouragement goes a long way, so please consider a paid subscription, which need cost no more than (a cheap) glass of wine per week. Or, book a wine walk!
My book, ‘The Hidden Vineyards of Paris’ (reviewed in Jancis Robinson’s wine blog, the Wine Economist, National Geographic Traveler UK, UK Telegraph) is available for purchase via our website and at anglophone bookshops and wine shops in Paris. You can also find it at the Musée de Montmartre and the Librairie Gourmande.
Give the gift of experience!
Paris Wine Walks Gift Certificates are available year round and make exceptional gifts
Sparkling Wine Splash
Immerse yourself in the effervescence of the season with our Sparkling Wine Splash experience. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or just toasting to the joy of the holidays, our blind wine tasting of carefully selected sparkling wines invites friendly competition to see who can identify the Champagne among five fabulous sparkling wines. Book now!
Wine & Cheese Please
Indulge in classic and surprising pairings of wine and cheese with our in-depth Wine & Cheese Please tasting. Explore the nuances of flavour as our knowledgeable guides lead you through a ‘cultural’ tour de France, revealing the secrets of perfectly paired combinations. It's an ideal way to savour the sophistication of Parisian life. Book now!
Wine Walks!
For more information, click on the underlined links:
Clos Montmartre - Paris in Your Glass
Paris' most famous wine producing vineyard
Latin Quarter Unbottled!
An insider's journey to the oldest wine neighbourhood in the city
Wine Your Way Through the Marais
The Marais seen through a wineglass
Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Discover the vinous spirit of medieval Paris
3-Vineyard Cycling Tour
A comprehensive overview of medieval Paris
Paris Bottled!
Short on time? This one’s for you.
