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The Montmartre Grape Harvest Fest 2021 is announced to be happening this year!
After the last La Fête des Vendange de Montmartre had to be cancelled due to Covid-19, it looks good for 2021! From October 6 to October 10, Montmartre will celebrate the harvest season and if you are having a soft spot for wine and delicious French food, you should not miss this event!
Knowing that France is the world-leading wine-producing country, you can expect vineyards to literally be everywhere – not only in the famous regions like Bourgogne, Bordeaux, or the Loire valley. By “everywhere” I mean even in Paris! Today you can find around 10 remaining vineyards all over France’s capital – the most famous being in the heart of Montmartre, right behind the Sacré Coeur.
The Clos Montmartre is the oldest vineyard in Paris and the location is historic. In Roman times, the north was covered with vineyards, up to the slopes of the Montmartre hill. In the early 20th century the land became wasteland and under the control of the City of Paris, the vineyards were recreated in 1933.
Related post: Click here to find the best hotels in Montmartre.
Considering the urban setting between roads and houses, the vineyard is rather productive: Up to 1000 bottles of Clos Montmartre Wine are produced each year! It is hard to get your hands on one of those though. They are auctioned off for high prices and the benefits are going to local charities.
Even though you most likely won’t be able to sample the Montmartre wine, you can still celebrate it! Traditionally, the harvest season ends with a big wine harvest fest in October.
The Parisian wine harvest fest tradition started with the first harvest season in 1934 and becomes more popular by the year! In fact, it’s the 3rd popular festival in Paris by now, after the Nuit Blanche and Paris Plage.
What to expect at the Montmartre Grape Harvest Fest 2021?
The wine harvest festival in Montmartre turns the area around the Sacre Coeur into a big food festival and countless French regions are presenting their specialities. You obviously can sample lots of wine and local spirits, but also regional French food specialities, including cold cuts, cheeses, all sorts of pastries and sweets, local treats like raclette or oysters and surely some Acras and Rum from the French overseas regions!
Montmartre is the artist district of Paris and you won’t be disappointed in this regard. Many local galleries are using the occasion to exhibit their collection, but you are also in for concerts and activities for children.
Covid-19 Measurements
Due to Covid-19, it is certain that there will be adapted measurements regarding hygiene and capacities in place. However, this information isn’t released yet.
If you have any questions about Paris or need some advice and how to plan your trip, don’t hesitate to reach out! I created a Facebook group for this matter and I am available to help you out! Click here to join the private Salut from Paris Facebook group!
I haven’t heard of the Grape Harvest Festival either. It sounds intriguing. Is it just wine at the festival or are there also actual grapes? And how does saucisson taste? It looks like a dried meat but I’ve never tried it.
Hi Rhonda, the festival happens after the harvest, so there are none left. But if you come earlier in the year you can see them at the vineyard of Montmartre 🙂 Saucisson is a kinda smoked sausage that you serve before dinner as an appetiser. The ones on the Photo are small ones that you can eat just like that; the bigger are usually cut in little slices
Is it the 3rd popular festival in Paris? This is the first time I hear of it, I would have loved to attend and eat some raclette, sausisson and other French goodies. Love your pictures, reminds me of my time living in France.
I was surprised, too! But considering the amount of people that were there, I think the 2 of us are the only ones that never heard of it before 🙂
You really have some nice photos in the post! Especially the ones with the food. Food photography is probably my weakest point 🙂 The place is lovely, but not exactly the one I’m looking for when traveling on my own.
thank you! I am not sure if I would have attended this festival if on a trip.. but I live in Paris so there isn’t really anything to loose 😉
Haha 😀 I know that feeling! Good you had a nice time here and kept good memories <3
That looks like an amazing part of Paris to see. We will make a note of checking it out. It’s great that you got to see it during the festival as well. The weather looks pretty fantastic when you were there. Very lucky.
Such a nice festival. I like wine festivals because its that time of the year where one can get morally drunk! Besides that, Montmartre in Paris is really beautiful. The autmn is surely the best season😚. I’d love a trip to Montmartre but when there is a wine festival going on
thanks for taking the time to read and comment 🙂 You describe exactly why I loved it 😀
What a great way to relax and spend the day in Montremarte! I think it’d be fun to visit one of the wineries for sure. I had no idea Paris had wineries in the city and that would definitely be unique and fun to do.
it was 🙂 thank you for your comment! Paris has about 10 little vineyards and indeed, it’s not expectable in a city !
I am going to keep your post bookmarked. Because visiting a vineyard is one of the things high on my bucket list. And I will check with them if I can volunteer there. The pictures are just so stunning.
thank you!!! 🙂
This brings back such fond memories of my trip to Paris and seeing the beautiful fall colors in your shots is making me wish I visited during autumn. I’ve never heard of this festival either but I’ll for sure be checking it out the next time I’m back in France!
thank you for showing Paris from a different angle. i wish i knew some of these places when i was there. I need to come back!