"Oyez, oyez good people! Come and listen to my joyful life story! My name is Gnafron, but my friends call me "le Père la Grolle"! Why, I hear you ask? Because I am a cobbler by trade. I was born in the 18th century in the Lyonnais vogues (fairs). My father, Laurent Mourguet, was seeking a pal for his eldest son, Guignol. The poor little canut (silk worker) was getting really bored with his fenotte (wife), the beautiful Madelon, since Mr. Punch had left them. It has to be said that those two didn't always see eye to eye! Fortunately I was there! With my pot (bottle) of Beaujolais and my repertoire of bar jokes, I brought a bit of colour back into their life!"

With his truculent and "jack the lad" personality, Le Père la Grolle could be the reflection of his origins. As an inveterate Beaujolais lover, over the centuries, the puppet has become the emblem of the vineyard. And thus, since 1931, his statue occupies a place of honour in Beaujeu, the region's capital. In 2001, a picturesque fresco was added depicting the close links between the Lyonnais and the Beaujolais regions. Fervent defender of Beaujolais values, and also a loyal friend and warm hearted character, Gnafron, known as Le Père la Grolle, has been the natural choice as the ambassador for our wines.

The canut and his fenotte where staggering about in the alleys of old Lyons. They were returning from a mâchon where the bûgnes had followed on after the grattons, the barboton and the matefaim; and all this was well washed down with a few pots of Beaujolais. Grolle: shoe Gones: Lyonnais street urchins

Canuts: Lyonnais silk workers

Traboules: Alleys crossing the block of houses, from one street to another -> trabouler = to pass through the alley

Ma fenotte: my wife

Bouchon: restaurant, bistrot, tavern

Aller de brezingues: stagger about like a drunk Grolasser ou cigroler: linger

Bûgnes: doughnuts in the shape of a twist

Grattons: grilled pork grease residue, a popular delicacy with the Lyonnais

Barboton: stew, often with mutton

Matefaim: thick, fortifying pancake

Canon: glass of wine, a quarter of a bottle Pot: 46 centilitres wine bottle

Vogue: fun fair, festival

Mâchon: a god meal, a wedding breakfast