Gleizé - The abandoned wine cellar

We received photos from a traveler and compiled them into a historical summary.

Today we are visiting a former wine cellar located in Gleizé, a small suburban community in the Rhône. A chai (cellar) is defined as a place where wine is stored, whether in bottles or barrels. Here, however, we are talking about massive vats. In the heart of the Beaujolais region, we are dealing with hundreds of thousands of liters.

This place was discovered completely by chance. I was driving toward the next castle when suddenly, I whispered: "Oh, putré!" My daughter and I do that—it actually comes from school—putréfaction! it’s a way to avoid using curse words, and it’s addictive! So, "Oooh, putré," then.

I grabbed a bite to eat in the public housing project (HLM) nearby. It wasn't great, but the shade was welcoming. Then, it was time for the visit. I was expecting a zero-star experience. Really. And that’s how it started... but then... well, peuchère, no! It’s actually quite beautiful!

The site consists of an impressive alignment of huuuuuuge vats—with plenty of "U"s just like that. It’s beautiful, it’s dark, and it’s as abandoned as one could wish for. A true moment of joy when you expect nothing and it’s just gifted to you like that.

The building dates back to 1932. The business has since moved to the next village over. The building is slated to be converted into housing. The units are currently for sale; during my visit, construction work was imminent.