Discover 5 unusual vineyards

Les Grappes invites you to take a little tour of the world's most unusual vineyards. Sometimes you wonder what winemakers are thinking.

#1 The Montmartre vineyard

Okay, this one's a classic, but we still had to include it in our Top 10: the Montmartre vineyard, also known as Clos Montmartre. It's been there for over a millennium and was already supplying the common folk and the working class in 944. They have a great sense of humor, actually, since they coined the proverb: "It's Montmartre wine. He who drinks a pint pisses a quart." A pint is equivalent to 93 centiliters and a quart to 67 liters… that gives you an idea of ​​the wine's quality. The vineyard still produces wine, and its vines are celebrated every October.

#2 The Pacific Vineyard

Wine is also made in the Pacific Ocean. The island of Tahiti launched the "Tahitian Wine" project in 2002. When you think about it, all the conditions are perfect for vines to thrive: sunshine, a favorable climate, soil suited to viticulture, fine sandy beaches, and coconut palms! The only concern is a tidal wave. That could be a problem.

#3 The vineyards of Cappadocia

We now travel to Cappadocia in Turkey. The region, known for its cave dwellings and ancient sculptures, also holds another treasure that takes us back to a bygone era. Amidst these otherworldly landscapes, perched at altitudes of up to 1,500 meters, vines have been cultivated in Anatolia for 4,500 years. The minerals present in the soil, the region's abundant sunshine, and the caves carved into the rock create an ideal environment for producing wines whose quality improves year after year.

#4 The vineyards of Lanzarote

This lunar landscape is indeed on the blue planet! We're in Lanzarote, a small Spanish island off the coast of Morocco. Between desert landscapes and idyllic beaches, cultivation, whatever form it takes, is a real challenge. The volcanic eruptions of Timanfaya in 1730 largely shaped the island's climate. Much of it is covered in ash left by the last cataclysm, allowing the wind to blow freely across the entire island. But the winemaker has more than one trick up his sleeve! The vines have been planted in holes, some up to 3 meters deep, spaced 5 meters apart, and surrounded by low walls in areas where the winds are particularly harsh.

#5 The vineyard on the Urrugne ridge

Our fifth extreme winemaker is Emmanuel Poirmeur , and he sells his wine on Les Grappes! In 2007, he took the bold step of planting his vines on the Urrugne cliffside, not far from Hendaye. In 2009, the project became a reality. The Chardonnay vines perched on this small corner of the Basque Country benefit from constant winds that often reach speeds of around 110 km/h, thus preventing disease and enhancing the vines' growth. As Emmanuel likes to say, "Here, it's a battle in viticulture." The cultivation of this grape variety, more commonly grown in Champagne or Burgundy, is nevertheless perfectly suited to the climatic conditions of this area.

Bonus: The Ribeira Sacra vineyard

Olé! We're heading back to Spain, Galicia to be precise. They certainly have a knack for making things complicated. In the Ribeira Sacra appellation, they practice mountaineering, with vines perched on dizzying slopes since Roman times. The logic: the higher the terrace on which the vines are planted, the more sunshine and cool air currents they benefit from, allowing for better sugar concentration in the grapes.

Thibault, contributor to Les Grappes

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Photo credits:

– Vignes Montmartre, www.voyage-webguides.com
– Tahiti Vines, Tahiti Wine
– Cappadocia Vineyards, https://www.huwans-clubaventure.fr
– Vineyards Lanzarote, onekite.forum.free.fr