Winemaking in the City of Love

Thinking of Paris, two things usually spring to mind; romance and wine. So what better than an Audi A1 Sportback to explore the winding streets and delve deeper into winemaking history?

Though Parisians consume nearly one billion litres of wine every year, there has been no commercial production of wine in the city since the 1960s. That doesn’t mean that some dedicated amateurs have been idle however, and one such winery, Les Vignerons Parisiens, not only produces large amounts of wine, but also offers winemaking courses to the public.

Matthieu Bosser, manager and co-founder of Les Vignerons Parisiens says, ‘everywhere you turn is Paris there’s a craft beer brewery, but no one was making wine. I couldn’t believe such a thing could happen in France, so I made it my mission to bring back the know-how of winemaking to the capital.’

Another hidden gem is the Bistrot Mélac in east Paris, which tends a vine planted over 40 years ago, growing from the cellar to wrap itself around the front of the building. Entering the details into the satellite navigation system fitted in the Audi A1 Sportback Black Edition couldn’t be simpler, and the 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine sprints through the Paris traffic with nimble agility.

Thanks to the traffic alerts from the optional sat-nav, the retractable LED display screen in the A1 navigates smoothly around black spots of Paris rush hour traffic, arriving at the location with plenty of time to relax with a glass of house wine.

The historic vine that wraps around the building lends the restaurant some of its popularity, and the owner, Didier Madamour, throws an annual grape-picking party for the locals to get involved in the process. ‘I think more people should be making their own wine,’ says Didier. ‘It breaks the monopoly of large winemakers, adding interesting varieties to the mix.’

So with a spacious boot filled with local wine, it is time to head across the channel, taking a unique part of French culture along for the ride. To experience the explosive Audi A1 Sportback for yourself, book a test drive with Jardine Motors Audi today.