The world's largest wine cellar in Paris and the Riesling King

A town hall with its own wine press in the cellar, a famous comedian and the boss of the "Moulin Rouge" save an age-old wine tradition. It sounds like the stuff of a crazy film, but it was a reality in Paris.

As early as the Middle Ages, monks in Paris cultivated the "city vines" that Romans had once planted in the hills of Montmartre and Saint-Denis. For several centuries, winegrowing provided the royal family with opulent income. After the French Revolution, however, the Parisian vines had to make way for large warehouses - the Bercy neighbourhood in Paris became the largest wine cellar in the world. Affordable wines from all over the world were now available to the people.

By the end of the 1920s, the rows of vines in Montmatre had almost disappeared. At the beginning of the 1930s, they were replanted with 2,000 Gamay and Pinot Noir vines. However, it was not until the 20th century that the vineyards in the famous Parisian neighbourhood experienced a renaissance: new vines were planted and the vineyards were placed under protection to prevent construction projects. Today, they symbolise the eventful history of viticulture in the French capital. The rescue of this cultural asset is always celebrated during the grape harvest - with an opulent, colourful costume parade through Montmatre. Around 200 winegrowers now ensure that Paris' glorious past as a winegrowing region remains alive.

An enjoyable journey through time through the legendary Parisian neighbourhood, whose extraordinary wine-growing history is known only to a few.

Watch "Paris - the largest wine cellar in the world"

Less wine is being drunk, less wine is being sold. Economically, this development is both a challenge and an opportunity for smaller family wineries: when the next generation takes over the business, it puts old habits to the test and opens up new areas of business. Just like the brothers Marcel and Marius Dillmann, who are currently shaking up wine community in the Rheingau.

What do the boys do differently from their parents' generation? Marcel and Marius tell us their story. They took over their parents' winery in Geisenheim and expanded what was then a part-time business with half a hectare of vineyards to 14 hectares and turned it into a full business. Marcel looks after the vineyards and cellar. His brother Marius is in charge of marketing and sales. He organises house parties in the vineyards and a wine tavern in the courtyard. Sophie Egert, who joined her brother in the family winery of the same name in Hattenheim, has also been successful with her strategy.

An interesting insight into the cosmos of young Rheingau winegrowers who are defying the crisis with original ideas and at the same time winning over new target groups for their wines.

Watch "What young winegrowers are doing to combat the slump in sales"