The Malleval cellar is one of Lyon's most ancient cellars, or quite possibly the oldest, dating back to 1869. As the name indicates, it belonged to the Malleval family. The present owners, Claude and Franck Jabouley, took over the cellar 15 years ago, in 1989. They knew exactly how to turn Malleval into a place Lyonnais wine lovers wouldn't be able to ignore.

Every visitor here, young novice or the sharpest connoisseur, is bound to discover some pleasure. There are some 5,000 wine and spirit labels, with very old vintages and rare bottles.

La Maison Malleval is also a fine grocery shop, with 2,700 labels, including spices, condiments, caviar and foie gras. Not to mention the famous teas « Thés Mariages Frères,» which Malleval sells by the ton! The grocery shop counts for about 20% of Malleval's activity. Presently, 6 highly-skilled people work at Malleval.

Besides the quantity and quality of its bottles, what is unique about Malleval is incontestably its 300m2 buried cellar. Recently air-conditioned, this is where marvels come of age: bottles of Château Pétrus, Romanée-Conti, and Vieux Armagnacs, some dating back to1893.

They carry wine from all the wine-growing regions, both in France and abroad, but it's true that the Rhône Valley wines are in first place.

Cave Malleval - 11, rue Emile Zola (locate), F-69002 Lyon, Tél + 33 (0) 478 420 207 

by Laurent Turrel, © www.nuncbibendum.com 2007