The Smart Buyer's Guide

Where to Buy French Wine

Wine Shops: Advantages: - Expert advice - Curated selection - Often better storage - Tasting opportunities - Special orders possible

What to look for: - Temperature-controlled storage - Knowledgeable staff - Diverse selection - Fair pricing - Regular tastings

Online Retailers: Advantages: - Vast selection - Competitive prices - Delivery convenience - Access to rare wines - Customer reviews

Considerations: - Shipping costs - Weather concerns - Return policies - Reputation matters - Storage conditions unknown

Direct from Wineries: Advantages: - Best prices often - Exclusive bottlings - Supporting producers - Freshest bottles - Winery experience

Challenges: - Shipping restrictions - Minimum purchases - Language barriers - Import duties

Auctions: For collectors: - Rare/old vintages - Provenance crucial - Condition varies - Buyer's premium adds cost - Research essential

Reading French Wine Labels

Mandatory Information: - Producer/Négociant name - Appellation/Classification - Alcohol percentage - Volume - Country of origin - Contains sulfites (if applicable)

Useful Optional Information: - Vintage year - Grape varieties (except traditional regions) - Vineyard name - Bottling information - Organic/Biodynamic certification - Traditional terms (Sur Lie, Vieilles Vignes)

Quality Indicators: - "Mis en bouteille au château/domaine" (Estate bottled) - "Récoltant" (Grower, not négociant) - Single vineyard names - "Vieilles Vignes" (Old vines) - Certification logos

Price vs. Quality

The relationship isn't linear: - Under €10: Many excellent everyday wines - €10-25: Sweet spot for quality/value - €25-50: Special occasion wines - €50-100: Serious wines, age-worthy - €100+: Trophy wines, diminishing returns

Value Strategies: - Lesser-known appellations - Off-vintages from great producers - Second wines from top estates - Rising star producers - Unfashionable grapes/styles

Vintage Considerations

Great Vintages: Buy broadly - 2010: Classic across France - 2015: Warm, ripe, accessible - 2016: Elegant, balanced - 2018: Hot but successful - 2019: Fresh despite warmth - 2020: Variable but promising

Challenging Vintages: Shop carefully - 2013: Cool, wet, difficult - 2017: Frost damage - 2021: Disease pressure

Remember: Great producers make good wine in difficult vintages, often at better prices.