An unorthodox PAIRING

Running and wine may seem unlikely bedfellows, but the combination is proving increasingly popular

- MARIANNA HUNT

Who would have thought that when six Frenchmen came up with the idea for a fancy dress marathon including 20 stops for wine tasting and nibbles it would result in generations of Zorros, Cleopatras and cowboys throwing up foie gras and oysters in prized Bordeaux vineyards and the instigation of a global phenomenon that today draws thousands of participants each year?

When the Marathon du Médoc was launched in 1985, people thought it was bonkers. At the time, marathons were serious things done by serious people and many local vignerons were unfussed about getting involved, according to Hubert Rocher, who co-founded the race with five friends.

‘In the beginning, the owners of the châteaux said, “We don’t need promotion for Médoc wines.” But now the situation is very different,’ he says. ‘Médoc wines are facing big problems.’

The naysayers were proved wrong and by 1994, 8,000 people were taking part each year. Since then, interest in combining running and wine has accelerated at an Olympic pace.

International flavour