Wine and Spirits in Paris
Wine is synonymous with France, and some of the most sought-after bottles in the world are produced here. Yet you needn’t buy an exorbitantly priced Chateau Lafite to enjoy a fine bottle, as there is a vast range of moderately – even cheaply – priced good wine. The French drink wine and spirits traditionally with meals or snacks, and ideally with friends. France does not have an explicitly stated legal age of consumption, although you must be 18 years old to buy alcohol. From an early age, usually with the guidance of parents, the French develop their taste for and knowledge of wine and other beverages. Cognac and locally produced fruit brandies are also worth seeking out, as well as regional specialties like the pastis of the south and the hard cider of Normandy. Alcohol is sold in specialty shops, supermarkets, local grocers and even gas stations. There are no restrictions on the days that alcohol is sold, although many large supermarkets will not sell alcohol after 8 or 9 pm.
Local caves, or wine shops, are abundant in the city and range from large, reliable chains to intimate, family stores. Most proprietors are passionate about their trade and will enjoy helping you select the perfect accompaniment to your meal. Be sure you describe the meal as thoroughly as you can and indicate the price range. He will then suggest the most appropriate wine. Supermarkets also have large selections of domestic wines and staff is usually well informed and knowledgeable. In almost any place where wine is sold, even supermarkets, you will frequently see tastings offered. This is considered essential to educate yourself about the wine, so feel free to join in!
You might also want to make a visit to the Musée du Vin Paris to learn more about the beverage of the gods. It is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm and their restaurant is open between 12 noon and 3pm.
5, square Charles Dickens
Rue des Eaux – 75016 Paris
Tel. : 01 45 25 63 26
http://www.museeduvinparis.com
| Name | Website | Location | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicolas | http://www.nicolas.com | With 200 shops in Paris, there is at least one in every arrondissement | The website provides store locations, as well as online purchasing. |
| Repaire de Bacchus | http://www.lerepairedebacchus.com | Over 40 shops in and around Paris | A reliable chain of caves with a wide range of products and prices. |
| La Derniere Goutte | http://www.ladernieregoutte.net/vins/index-swf.php | 6, rue de Bourbon-le-Chateau 75006 01.43.29.11.62 | English-speaking staff and wine tastings on the weekends make this a very comfortable cave for foreigners. |
| Les Caves Taillevent | http://taillevent.com/les-caves-de-taillevent-boutique | 199, rue du Faubourg-St-Honore 75008 01.45.61.14.19 | The wine cellars of the world famous restaurant wish a vast assortment of wines |
| Les Caves du Savour Club | http://www.savourclub.fr | 125bis, boulevard du Montparnasse 75014 01.43.27.12.06 and 11-13 rue Gros 75016 01.42.30.94.18 | Wines of all qualities and price ranges in the two shops and online. The shops have drive up entries for loading wine into your car. |
In Vino Veritas is an internet store that sells quality wine at discount prices. While you do not have the advantage of personal assistance or tastings, you can get some extremely good deals. Prices range from a bottle for 11 Euro discounted from 18 Euro to those that exceed 140 Euro discounted from 185 Euro and much higher. Your purchase is generally delivered in about 4-7 days. For more information, visit the store at: http://www.invinolibertas.com.
Another online option is Wine in Black. Their experts explore and sample wines from all over and offer the best of what they discover in various categories and price ranges. Once their newsletter comes out, the wines are only available for 7 days. Delivery is about 7 days. They guarantee 100% customer satisfaction. Visit the website for more information: https://www.wine-in-black.fr.
