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A salon is actually the reception or social room of a bourgeois house. Since the 17th century, however, the salon has also stood for decisive developments in literature, art, philosophy and politics. Yes, even in the wine world, a "salon" is more than just an exhibition: namely, a discussion forum, a presentation of ideas, a gathering of like-minded people.

Indeed, the "Salons des vins des Vignerons Indépendants" are not simply wine fairs, as there are so many. It is above all ways of thinking in viticulture that are presented here. A charter with nine basic rules connects the large association. These are rather slogans than rules, which could fundamentally improve the wines. Among other things, it says: "The winemaker respects his vineyard, works his vines, harvests his grapes, presses his wine and vinifies it.... ”. Actually, this is self-evident! But the last statute is particularly important: "The winegrower welcomes customers, gives advice during wine tasting and is happy to present the result of his work and cultivation."

The "salon" in Strasbourg is a public fair

The "Salons des Indépendants" are therefore rather sales than presentation, or even trade fairs. This means that they are open to the public. Only once a year, in February, just before Strasbourg, a pure "trade fair" takes place in Paris, only for the "professionals". Strasbourg, Rennes, Bordeaux, Lyon, Lille, Reims and two other fairs in Paris are open to the general wine public. Here, vintners present themselves "to touch", whose wines one may drink, even without mastering the great wine philosophy. In most cases, the vintners themselves are there, not their sales managers, ecologists, company employees. They invite people to visit their wineries, they are at the stand almost non-stop and do not hide in screened corners and séparées. The wines can be bought and taken away. So then, the seller of small, collapsible handcarts (chariot) probably makes the most sales.

Most sold: Handcarts
For the many visitors from Germany, some vintners try to speak German, which is almost like a declaration of love for French people. When it comes to sonorous terms, they are seldom embarrassed: "le vin a un visage", they say, meaning that behind the wines are people who produce, improve, who live from and for their vines, who believe in their products, put them up for discussion and - of course - want to sell them. At no other wine fair have I experienced this so directly, so relaxed and open. This is what makes the Strasbourg wine fair - pardon: the Strasbourg salon - so unique, somehow different, despite all its business acumen: moderate, human.

This is also part of the wine experience, not only the sensed quality, which can be explored with the senses. After all, 500 wineries presented themselves in Strasbourg, five hundred out of a total of around 38,000 "independents", who together make up 1/3 of all wine producers in France. When the talks are over, when the deal is done (or not), the key words of the "independents" come up again and again: "indépendance, autonomie, responsabilité". This sounds quite similar to "liberté, egalité, fraternité", the three basic values that have defined the "grande Nation" since the French Revolution, a country whose wine culture is actually also part of its self-image. Why should the vintners be more modest?

With all my heart

Yours sincerely

Peter (Züllig)

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