Monday, October 5, 2009

Foires aux Vins 2009 in Paris



It is always good to be back in Paris. I will be there tomorrow evening and eat at the Brasserie Wepler at the Place Clichy in the 18th with my friend Jean. C'est correct as the French say. Excellent brasserie food. Not fancy. Nothing special. But honest and good quality, good price quality ratio ...and French. The Wepler celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1992 but has not changed much, I assume. When people like Picasso, Utrillo, Modigliani,Henry Miller, Truffaut and Chabrol used to eat and drink there, it was probably not very different from today. This is the Paris I love so much.

Now is the time of the big wine sales in Paris. Casino, Carrefour and Monoprix have already finished their sale this year, while those at Auchan, Leclerc and Champion are in full swing. This is the time the Parisians stock up their wine cellar for the coming year. Reportedly the foires aux vins have a volume of Euro 400 million, or US$ 600 million. Quantities are slightly down, but prices are considerably down. Wines above Euro 30, or US$ 45, are difficult to sell. See Le Figaro.

I always took advantage of these sales when I used to live in the Rue de Madrid in the 8th in Paris between 2002 and 2005. It was always great fun to do that. I will enjoy myself tomorrow at the Champion's and Leclerc's wine departments, but unfortunately will not be able to buy as I no longer have a wine cellar in Paris.

No comments:

Post a Comment