French Wine

There are few countries that can boast wines as varied and refined as France.

TravelCurious Tip

Be careful when buying Bordeaux. As the Chinese market has developed a taste for wine, the prices have gone a bit mad, and do not always indicate the quality of the wine

The French stereotype - baguettes, berets, effortless grace, haughty air - would be incomplete without a glass of French wine. What’s more, your trip would be incomplete without trying it. They produce a staggering 7-8 billion bottles of wine a year, making them one of the largest wine producers in the world. They probably drink most of it too. The French are valiantly holding out the tradition of wine with a proper lunch as the rest of the world munches a Prêt-a-Manger sandwich in front of their monitor.


A certain je ne sais quoi

French wines can be a touch confusing. They rarely put the name of the grape on the bottle, instead putting a place name. The traditions of winemaking and grape growing are tied into each region’s long history. In part this is because of how important they believe the terroir is. This is a slightly indefinable quality of the ground where the grape is grown, which is determined by accumulation and interaction of thousands of factors. No one really knows what it is, so it remains a pleasingly magical thing.


Burgundy & Bordeaux

These are two of the prestige wines that France prides itself on. The Pinot noir grape is used for Burgundy. It is notoriously difficult to grow, but makes fruity wines with soft tannins that go delightfully with, for example, chicken and lamb.


Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec grapes are often used for the ‘Bordeaux blend’. You will notice a hint of blackcurrant, and someone pompous might start talking about leathery, tobacco-y, truffle-y or cedarwood notes — then have another sip and you may find yourself noticing these flavours too..

Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in Paris
The Latin Quarter
The Latin Quarter represents the essence of intellectual Paris, a place to unwind amidst the rarefied atmosphere of the 5th and 6th arrondissements.
The Victory of Samothrace
The Winged Victory of Samothrace is a must-see in the Louvre: a paradigm of Greek beauty, the archetype of Hellenistic sculpture.
Pont Neuf
Built to ease traffic congestion in the early 17th century, this iconic five-arch bridge is Paris' oldest bridge.
Place St-Michel Fountain
One of the city's most well-known meeting places, the statue depicts the archangel Michael vanquishing the Devil.
Place-Dauphine
One of the prettiest, most peaceful locations in Paris, the square is a hot-spot for families, dog walkers and petanque players.
Thermes de Cluny
Gallo-Roman thermal bath's ruins lying in the heart of Paris' 5th arrondissement.

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