Montmartre wine: Organic and sulfur-free

Since 1933, the Clos Montmartre, planted with some 1700 vines, has been one of the last vestiges of the winemaking past of Paris and the Île-de-France region. This year, the 2016 vintage is being offered for tasting and sale during the harvest festival.

Created in the early 1930s as a reaction to the urbanization of the hill, it remains a symbol of the life of the small village of Montmartre. It is on this small, sloping, north-facing plot that the teams of gardeners from the City of Paris, led today by Vincent (a predestined name) under the guidance of the oenologist Sylviane, strive to perpetuate the winemaking tradition of the place.

And it's fair to say it's a real challenge… Rainy climate, north-facing slopes, old and tired vines, poorly adapted to the poor, sandy soil… You have to keep the faith to produce good grapes. Especially since today, even though the vineyard isn't certified organic, it's cultivated according to the principles of organic farming , avoiding synthetic herbicides and pesticides.

However, each vintage, efforts are made to progressively improve the quality of Montmartre wine . Replacing old vines with grape varieties tolerant to the climate and diseases, better sorting of the grapes, use of modern winemaking methods to protect the wine from oxidation during vinification, abandonment of sulfites, ... Little by little, the wine becomes more and more drinkable.

1600 bottles of red and rosé wine will be offered for the 2016 vintage, which was very favorable. Unfortunately, the drought in July reduced the quantity this year, and half as many bottles will be produced from the 2017 harvest.

I confess that personally, I didn't appreciate the 2013 rosé… But given the progress made since then, I'm curious to try a glass of the new vintage. And since the profits from the sale go to charity, it's worth a try, isn't it?

Attention Parisians, come to the Festival and Social Action Committee , Place Jean Marais, from October 13th to 15th for the tasting!

Jules Lamon for Les Grappes

Pourquoi nous faire confiance ?

Depuis 2014, chez Les Grappes, nous partons à la rencontre de vignerons passionnés partout en France pour dénicher des vins authentiques, vivants et pleins d'histoire. En travaillant directement avec plus de 500 vignerons, nous sélectionnons des cuvées que nous aimons vraiment et que nous avons envie de vous faire découvrir.

Ce blog est le prolongement de cette aventure. On y partage nos découvertes, nos conseils, nos coups de cœur, nos meilleurs accords mets-vins, des idées de dégustation et tout ce qui nous anime au quotidien autour du vin.

L'objectif est simple : vous aider à choisir des bouteilles qui vous ressemblent et à prendre encore plus de plaisir à les déguster.