In Paris and Ile-de-France, there are today nearly 200 vines… on 12 hectares . But the Ile-de-France vineyards were not always so small…
In fact, it occupied 42,000 hectares in the 18th century, and it was also the largest vineyard in France ! Hard to believe today, of course... At that time, it concerned nearly 300 towns in the region and its wines were very famous, because they were notably served at royal tables.
It was in the 19th century that the decline began: decline in quality, galloping urbanization with the construction of railways, then the phylloxera crisis... So much so that in 1933, only two real former winegrowers remained, one in Argenteuil, the other in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine. The Parisian vineyard was then reborn with the planting of 2000 vines at Clos de Montmartre. Then in 1965, a 5,000-foot plantation was created in Suresnes.
But it was really not until the end of the 20th century that the movement developed. Local authorities, associations and even private individuals are starting to plant vines. From 2000 to 2011, the number of vines jumped from 130 to 200, representing twelve hectares and nearly 40,000 bottles .
There are Chardonnay and Sauvignon for the whites, while the reds come mainly from Pinot Noir. Discover the “wine route” of this Ile-de-France vineyard during your Sunday walks: the Trianon vineyard of the Château de Versailles , the Clos des Brugnauts in Bagneux, the Jardin des Plantes in Paris, the Clos Montmartre , or even the Bercy vineyard …
A good start, isn't it? Perhaps we will soon be able to talk about a real Ile-de-France vineyard!
