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Clos Montmartre: The Remaining Vineyard in Paris

Mention French wines and you immediately think of the famed terroirs of Bordeaux, Burgundy or Alsace. But little is often said about a Parisian wine that is produced in the heart of Montmartre.

Montmartre Vineyard - Paris

Amble along the cobblestone streets leading to the junction of rue des Saules and rue Saint-Vincent and you see a vineyard stretching over 1600 m2 on a steep hill. This is Clos Montmartre, the only remaining and working vineyard in Paris.

Montmartre Vineyard - Paris
Clos Montmartre in September

Vineyards once covered Butte Montmartre. Back when Paris was known as Lutèce, there was a temple dedicated to the Roman god of wine, Bacchus. Wine production continued from the 12th century under a Benedictine Abbey which owned a wine press to the early 20th century until the crops were destroyed by a bout of phylloxera.

Montmartre Vineyard - Paris

In 1933, the site was saved from development and vines were planted by the Mairie de Paris. 27 varietals make up the wine but it consists primarily of Gamay and Pinot Noir.

Montmartre Vineyard - Paris

You won’t find Montmartre wines in restaurants or bottle shops. The yield is auctioned every year with the proceeds going to charity. As for the wine itself, it is not known to be drinkable. According to a popular 17th century dictum, it has diuretic properties.

C’est du vin de Montmartre
Qui en boit pinte en pisse quarte

The wine of Montmartre
Whoever drinks a pinte (0.93 litres) pisses a quart (67 litres)!

Montmartre Vineyard - Paris

The vineyard is closed to the public except on special occasions such as la Fête des Jardins which is held in autumn. We were fortunate to be in Paris one September and had the opportunity to get close to the vines and grapes.

Montmartre Vineyard - Paris Montmartre Vineyard - Paris

The wine harvest is celebrated during La Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre, an annual event that takes place in the second weekend in October.

Montmartre Vineyard - Paris
Clos Montmartre in November

Clos Montmartre
14-18 rue des Saules
75018 Paris
Métro: Lamarck-Coulaincourt

La Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre
http://www.fetedesvendangesdemontmartre.com/

About the author

Corinne Mossati

Corinne Mossati is a drinks writer, author of GROW YOUR OWN COCKTAIL GARDEN, SHRUBS & BOTANICAL SODAS and founder/editor of Gourmantic, Cocktails & Bars and The Gourmantic Garden. She has been writing extensively about spirits, cocktails, bars and cocktail gardening in more recent years. She is a spirits and cocktail competition judge, Icons of Whisky Australia nominee, contributor to Diageo Bar Academy, cocktail developer and is named in Australian Bartender Magazine's Top 100 Most Influential List. Her cocktail garden was featured on ABC TV’s Gardening Australia and has won several awards. She is a contributor to Real World Gardener radio program and is featured in several publications including Pip Magazine, Organic Gardener, Australian Bartender and Breathe (UK). Read the full bio here.

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