Melac Bar à Vins

Melac bar à vins, also known as Bistrot à vins, is one of those hole-in-the-wall places you can’t get enough of. Owned by the charismatic Jacques Melac, it’s a bar frequented mostly by loyal wine enthusiasts, who are drawn to Melac and his bistro bar like a bee to honey.

History

Melac bar à vins was founded in 1938 by Melac’s father, nestled in a forgotten corner of the 11^th arrondissement. The building was originally titled Palais du Vin Good.

The Melac family is from the Aveyron region in the Massif Central mountains, and Jacques’ father came to Paris, like many others at the beginning of the 20^th century, to find solid work. Many of the cafes and bistros in Paris today were opened by Aveyron countrymen like the Melac family.

Before taking over ownership of the bar from his father, Melac was a wine enthusiast himself, working as a sommelier for a major Parisian hotel. His larger than life personality, and movie-villain-esque mustache are as much a part of the bar and atmosphere as the wine.

Not just a bar, Melac also doubles as a daytime bistro, serving classic finger foods and full meals too, such as beef, aligot aubrac (which is soup made from local cow’s milk cheese), and sausage. Don’t forget to ask for the special of the day.

In mid-September, the bar throws a party and harvests the grape plants located near and around the bar. The tradition dates back to 1979, when Melac cut a Baco vine from Aveyron and grew it in the basement of his bar. These days, local fans and visitors take part in the informal grape harvesting ceremony each year.

The bistro bar is closed on Sundays and holidays, and is only open after 8 p.m. during the week. One tip: Avoid asking for a Bordeaux – Melac has a particular dislike for that line of wine. But do be sure to ask for some vintage elections from Melac’s own countryside vineyards in Corbières.

Melac bar a vins is a local treasure, favored by Parisians, and cherished by first timers. It’s a classic wine bar experience in Paris. Not just for the vintage wines and typical French bistro food, but the atmosphere of the establishment as well. The rustic beamed ceiling, the vines crawling up the walls on the inside, and of course, Jacques Melac and his famous mustache, all make Melac bar a vins a wine bar with character.

The Corbières Region and Vinyards

Corbières is located in the Languedoc-Roussillon region, and is the larges Appelation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) for wine. Founded in 1985, the AOC spans 33,000 acres of land, made up of many types of vineyards. Over 80 percent of the wine in Corbières is red wine. The remaining is a mix of rosé wine and white wine. The most dominant type of grape grown in Corbières is Carignan. About 554,000 hectoliters of wine are produced each year from Corbières, or approximately 74 million bottles.

The region is famous for its locally harvested, reasonably priced wine. The relatively new AOC status in the area gives winemakers more resources, allowing them to produce finer wines that have been known to contend with classic French vintages such as Bordeaux and Burgundy.

Getting to Melac Bar a Vins

The nearest metro stop is Charonne. But driving isn’t too bad either, and plenty of parking is available in the area.

Nearby Attractions

Melac bar à vins not too far from the Eiffel Tower, but the bar itself remains largely unvisited by tourists. Also close by is the Père Lachaise Cemetery and the Opera Bastille. Victor Hugo’s home is not too far off, just blocks away from the river Seine.

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