French Wine
"Wine is an essential part of French meals, not an add-on. House wine ('vin de la maison') by the carafe is common, affordable (€8-15 per carafe), and often excellent quality. French wine culture emphasizes regional pairing: Loire whites, Bordeaux reds, Burgundy Pinot Noirs, Rhône blends. Paris is experiencing a massive natural wine ('vin nature') boom—minimal-intervention wines that are funky, cloudy, and trendy. Wine bars ('bars à vin') are everywhere."
Logistics
Moderate
Vibe
Integral, everyday
Duration
Throughout meal
Best For
Meals
The Backstory
France has produced wine for 2,600+ years since Greek colonization. French wine became the global standard in the 1700s-1800s. The AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) system established in 1935 protects regional wine identities. Parisians have always drunk wine daily with meals—it's not special occasion drinking. The natural wine movement exploded in Paris in the 2010s, led by young vignerons rejecting industrial winemaking.
Local Secret
"Order house wine ('vin de la maison') by the carafe (€8-12) or pitcher—it's better value than bottles. Ask for 'rouge' (red), 'blanc' (white), or 'rosé.' Don't be intimidated by wine lists—ask the waiter 'Qu'est-ce que vous recommandez?' (What do you recommend?). Wine bars in the Marais, Oberkampf, and Belleville specialize in natural wines. Pair red with meat, white with fish, rosé with charcuterie. Drink what you like—snobs exist but most Parisians aren't precious about wine."