Régis Anouil’s ‘Natural Wine’ to Be Served at Notre-Dame Cathedral Re-Opening

Natural wine will take center stage as Notre-Dame Cathedral reopens its doors after five years of painstaking restoration. The iconic Parisian landmark, devastated by a fire in April 2019, is ready to welcome the world once again. However, this time, it is not just the stunning architecture that is drawing attention.

The natural wine, crafted by Régis and Anne-Reine Anouil in the Loire Valley, is set to play a starring role in the grand reopening ceremony.

Natural wine symbolizes simplicity, authenticity, and connection to the earth, values that echo through Notre-Dame’s storied walls. For the archbishop and organizers, choosing this wine was as thoughtful as the years of labor spent rebuilding the beloved cathedral.

It Marks a Long-Awaited Rebirth of Notre-Dame

The fire that tore through Notre-Dame in April 2019 was a heart-wrenching moment for Paris and the world. Flames consumed the 800-year-old cathedral’s roof, steeple, and parts of its vaulting, leaving behind a skeleton of smoke and ash. The destruction shocked millions who have long admired the Gothic masterpiece.

The News / The restoration took five years, a €700 million budget, and a team of skilled workers dedicated to preserving its legacy.

Experts painstakingly recreated the steeple and roof, using traditional craftsmanship and sustainable materials. Now, the cathedral is ready to shine again, symbolizing resilience, hope, and the beauty of human dedication.

And what better way to mark such a profound moment than with a wine that shares similar values of care, heritage, and simplicity?

The Loire Valley’s Natural Wine Takes the Spotlight

The natural wine selected for Notre-Dame’s reopening comes from a small vineyard run by Régis and Anne-Reine Anouil in the Loire Valley. But this is no ordinary wine. It is a mixture of Chardonnay, Grenache Blanc, and Clairette Blanche, cultivated with passion and respect for nature. The couple’s vineyard spans just 2.6 hectares, producing around 10,000 bottles a year, yet its impact stretches far beyond its size.

Natural wine is produced with minimal intervention. That means no chemicals, no additives. Just pure grapes, grown and harvested in harmony with the land. It is a return to winemaking traditions that honor nature’s rhythms, much like the artisans who rebuilt Notre-Dame used ancient techniques to restore the cathedral.

However, the Anouils’ wine has already graced significant occasions. When Pope Francis visited Marseille in October 2023, he sipped on a red crafted by the couple during dinner with Archbishop Jean-Marc Aveline. Hence, it is no surprise that their white blend caught the attention of Bishop Laurent Ulrich, the Archbishop of Paris.

Régis Anouil suggested the wine as a perfect fit for the cathedral’s mass, and the archbishop agreed.

E News / In 2017, the couple left their professional lives behind to embrace a quieter existence in the Loire Valley. They settled in a small eco-hamlet called La Bénisson-Dieu, near the city of Roanne.

The Awe-Inspining Story of Régis Anouil and Anne-Reine

Régis and Anne-Reine Anouil’s story is as inspiring as the wine they produce. Before becoming a winemaker, Régis worked as editor-in-chief for a Parisian information agency linked to a Catholic missionary organization. His wife, Anne-Reine, was the chancellor of the diocese of Nanterre.

This tight-knit community of eight families shares a vision of “a simpler life” rooted in renewed social ties and rural living.

It was here, among rolling hills and fertile soil, that the Anouils planted their vineyard. Their dedication to natural winemaking reflects their belief in living intentionally, connected to both the land and their values.

So, choosing natural wine for Notre-Dame’s reopening is far from arbitrary. Wine has long held spiritual and cultural significance in Catholic ceremonies, representing renewal, celebration, and sacred connection. For such a historic occasion, the selection of a wine made with care and purity holds profound meaning.