Top 5 Wine-Themed Graphic Novels

Last week, Angoulême hosted the 43rd International Comics Festival. While wine was not among the 2016 award winners, it remains a subject that is increasingly being explored in comic books.

"Les Ignorants" by Etienne Davodeau

The Story: As its subtitle suggests, *Les Ignorants* is the story of a shared journey of discovery. Etienne Davodeau, a comic book author, one day proposes a crazy bet to his friend Richard Leroy, a winemaker in the Loire Valley: to spend a year with him to discover and better understand the world of wine, with the intention of introducing him to the world of comics in return.

What we love about this comic: Through simple, realistic black-and-white illustrations and deeply humanistic writing, Etienne Davodeau perfectly captures this year rich in discoveries, exchanges, and encounters. Reading this comic, we discover two worlds that we might think are worlds apart but that, in the end, are actually quite similar. More than just a comic about wine, it’s a graphic novel (since the format is almost like a book) that speaks to us above all about people, sharing, and passion—and that simply makes us want to open a good bottle with friends.

“A Great Forgotten Burgundy” by Emmanuel Guillot, Hervé Richez, and Boris Guilloteau

The story: “A Great Forgotten Burgundy” tells the story of Manu (Emmanuel Guillot), a winemaker and the son of a winemaker, who one evening at a friend’s house discovers a bottle of extraordinary wine—but one without a label. For Manu, it’s clear: he must find the vines that produced this mysterious wine to replant the future plot he plans to buy in the Mâconnais region. He then embarks on a quest that quickly becomes an obsession to fulfill a dream: to make a great wine in honor of his late father.

What we love about this comic: You quickly grow attached to the character of Manu and are happy to follow him on his quest for the unknown bottle, especially since Boris Guilloteau’s delicate artwork and black-and-white style (with occasional touches of red) make reading this comic a particularly enjoyable experience. As the pages turn and we follow the various tastings of the famous mystery wine, we learn a little more about Burgundy wines and their unique characteristics. Special mention goes to the final pages, which take us behind the scenes of the comic’s creation, as Hervé Richez (co-writer with Emmanuel Guillot) explains his creative process and introduces us to the various characters featured in the story.

“Chronicles of the Vineyard” by Fred Bernard

The story: As the grandson and great-grandson of winemakers in Savigny-lès-Beaune, Fred Bernard chose the fine arts over the vineyard, but his passion for wine never faded. One day, he decided to write a book about wine and asked his 90-year-old maternal grandfather to tell him about his love of wine and the terroir. This is how these “Chronicles of the Vineyard” came to be, a series of short stories drawn from the anecdotes of Fred Bernard’s ancestors and his personal reflections on wine and tasting.

What we love about this comic: You immediately warm up to this colorful grandfather, whom Fred Bernard portrays with great tenderness. He shares plenty of anecdotes—often very funny ones—and, without even realizing it, teaches us quite a bit about vineyards. The humorous text of this comic book and the lightness of the illustrations—a mix of pen and watercolor—make this 152-page graphic novel a pleasure to read. Ultimately, it’s a wonderful journey into the world of wine for enthusiasts, but also for those who love stories about family and passing down traditions.

“Châteaux Bordeaux” by Corbeyran and Espé

The Story: Following their father’s death, the three Baudricourt children inherit the family winery, located in the heart of the Médoc. The two brothers want to sell it quickly, but their younger sister Alexandra, who knows nothing about wine, wants to take over the family estate. Over the course of the series (the sixth volume of this comic book was released in September 2015), we follow her as she discovers the unique world of Bordeaux wines and fights to revive a once-prestigious classified growth.

What we love about this comic: While some may not be drawn in by the overly romanticized nature of this family saga, we must still commend Corbeyran’s work, as he manages to weave in educational elements about various aspects of wine ( grape varieties, winemaking, the impact of vintages, etc.) without weighing down the narrative. Espé’s artwork, meanwhile, brings a dynamic energy to the whole thing. In short, this comic is a fun read, and it teaches you a bit more about the Bordeaux wine world.

If you enjoy Corbeyran’s work, you’ll be interested to know that he has just completed a new trilogy—this time not about wine, but about cognac. The first book in this crime-thriller-style series, titled *La Part des démons*, was presented at the Angoulême Festival.

“The Wine” by Sylvain Frécon & Murielle Rousseau

The Story: Dargaud Publishing has teamed up with the magazine *Ça m’intéresse* to create this comic book about wine. In it, Professor FAQ and Dr. Stella take us on a journey through France’s vineyards to answer almost every question you might have about wine: its origins, its terroirs, how it’s made, and more.

What we love about this comic book: Both funny and informative, this story is a fun way to learn more about wine. Murielle Rousseau’s explanations are clear without being dry, and Sylvain Frécon’s lively, humorous artwork brings the whole thing to life and makes it easy to follow. In short, it’s the perfect book for learning about wine while having fun!

So, are you convinced that wine and comics go well together? If so, you now have something to keep you busy on a few of your winter evenings!

Maïlys (VeryWineTrip)

Why trust us?

Since 2014, Les Grappes has been dedicated to meeting passionate winemakers across France to unearth authentic, vibrant wines with rich histories. By collaborating directly with over 500 vintners, we meticulously select cuvées that we genuinely appreciate and are eager to share with you.

This blog serves as an extension of that journey. Here, we share our discoveries, expert advice, favorite selections, optimal food and wine pairings, tasting recommendations, and everything that inspires us daily in the world of wine.

The objective is straightforward: to assist you in selecting bottles that align with your preferences and to enhance your enjoyment in tasting them.