Paris Syndrome is an extreme form of culture shock that tourists, particularly Japanese tourists, experience on their first trip to Paris. The main symptom (though not technically classified in the DSM-V) is a paralyzing and overwhelming feeling of disappointment sometimes accompanied by nausea and dizziness. The Paris of tourists’ imagination (presented in movies like Amélie and Before Sunset) is shining and beautiful and perfect, and tourists imagine every moment of their time in Paris to be Instagrammable. Paris is undeniably beautiful, but it is also gritty and dirty and uncomfortable. It rains all the time and the ground is covered in trash and les crottes de chiens (dog poop) and cigarettes. Newly arrived tourists can immediately see someone peeing on a tree, notice homeless people sleeping on every street corner, and smell the stench of the metro tunnels. *Cue culture shock*
But Paris is wonderful in some key ways, namely wine! Beaujolais nouveau was Thursday this week. This grande fête in France celebrates the release of the first wine of the year’s growing season, which is made out of gamay grapes from the Beaujolais region. The historical view on this short-ferment wine is that it was very tannic, not very delicious, and wouldn’t keep long in the bottle. Not so!
Beaujolais is having something of a renaissance here in France as natural wine makers are making interesting, tasty beaujolais nouveau wine. According to Alison at Cavewoman Wines, Beaujolais nouveau is a perfect pairing for Thanksgiving, for all those out there who celebrate.
On Thursday this week we went to a beaujolais tasting at Rerenga Wines. The caviste and owner, Nathan, was so generous with his time and poetically described each wine, the winemaking process, and the vigneron(e)s who made them. This is how wine should be: interesting, approachable, and community-oriented.
The Paris Project
I’m Sarah, a travel and wellness writer based in the US. Join me on my 30-day journey in Paris as I post something new each week. You can follow along here on my blog or subscribe to my newsletter. I’ll send a weekly missive to all my newsletter subscribers while I’m here of all of my favorite Paris discoveries and adventures.