The drunkards

Whilst we were supping our glass of champagne outside the bar in Landreville I spotted that the name of the ‘place’ opposite had a date below it. It also said poet and wine maker. “I wonder who he was?” I asked Brian. So we decided to do a bit of research, but we couldn’t find too much.

Aristide Estienne (1851 - 1926) was a poet-winemaker who lived in Landreville, he is the author of some poetry collections which apparently are printed on beautiful papers. He also produced Champagne wine, and the capsules of his bottles were decorated with his portrait, and can still be bought today as a collectors items.

I thought I’d share one of his drinking songs,

The drunkards

Come on Grenet and you Bertholle
We are waiting for the Doctor!
Leave the vines and the school
For a comforting Pernod.

We will gather the station master
Without regard to his dignity,
And while smoking a cigar,
We will drink to our health.

We are the drunkards who empty pots
Without fear of severe foreheads,
And we sing and pour 
Good wine into our glasses!

Les Poivrets

Allons Grenet et toi Bertholle
On nous attend chez le Docteur !
Laissez les vignes et l'école
Pour un Pernod consolateur.

Nous cueillerons le chef de gare
Sans souci de sa dignité,
Et tout en fumant un cigare,
Nous boirons à notre santé.

C'est nous les poivrots qui vidons
Les pots sans crainte des fronts sévères,
Et nous chantons et nous versons
Le bon vin dans nos verres !