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Writer's pictureGeoffrey Finch

Vine spotting

Paris is a discontiguous vineyard


GEOFFREY FINCH

JUN 27, 2024


Paris was once covered in vines. It is hard to imagine now that under the historic streets of Paris, vineyards flourished in the city’s soil, and in some neighbourhoods, hidden vineyards still thrive. These vineyards often produced wines comparable to some of the best of France in both quantity and quality. The carpet of vines that covered the city for centuries may be gone, but the number of rogue, isolated and lovingly planted and cared for vines in the city is surprisingly extensive.


Win a free wine walk


I posted a piece about these vines in January, which was also an invitation to have people identify and share the location of vines we’ve not yet found. As I said at the time, it really wasn’t the best time of year to invite people to seek out the hidden vines of Paris as, “it’s hard enough for most people to identify a grape vine when they see one (unless it’s weighted with grapes, or in full leaf, or both, and sometimes even then…), so launching a participative quest to expand the list of isolated, rogue and private vines in Paris in winter is perhaps not the best timing”. (My post of 25 January 2024)


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But we’re now in summer and there couldn’t be a better time to discover, share, and celebrate the persistence of the vine in Paris. It only requires a keen eye, a camera (and who doesn’t have one in their pocket these days) and the spirit of the ‘flaneur’ turned vine-spotter. Send your discoveries to us by email: pariswinewalks@gmail.com


Recent discoveries we’ve made


Vine on the Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, 75018


Vineyard on the Rue des Deux Gares, 75010


Vine in the Square Lambert, 75015


We are offering a free wine walk to anyone who sends us a photo of a vine or vineyard we have not yet found. You can check to see what we have found on our website here.

And if you can identify the following five vineyards, you can also win a free wine walk.


Identify these five vineyards and win a free wine walk

Thank you for letting me into your world and for reading the Paris Wine WalksSubstack. 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 at ‘The Red Wheelbarrow Bookshop’ at 11 rue de Medicis, 75006 Paris. If you haven’t yet discovered this gem of a bookshop, now’s your chance. Open every day!


Wine Walks!


For more information, click on the underlined links:

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Short on time? This one’s for you.


Drink responsibly, drink sustainably, in moderation


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