I am writing to you from Paris, where I am taking a little work-cation (good news coming soon……shhhh!!!) but of course I brought both of my wine suitcases. I filled one with California wines for my friend and champagne colleague Isabel and delivered them to her in Reims…and then filled it up with champagne! She, who works for Canard-Duchene and her husband Dominique, who works for Taittinger, gave me some lovely bottles, but after we went to the Cathedral of Reims we stopped at a champagne shop to get a few more bottles…..at te Cave des Sacres, 7 place de Cardinal Lucon, Reims,
Still have another suitcase to fill, so I have a list of great places to get some French wines. First stop, Lavinia Victor Hugo, 22 avenue Victor Hugo. Found a lovely Cahors (original French Malbec) and an interesting blend from Bourgogne of Pinot Noir and Gamay.
This is a small yet well curated wine shop with some fantastic bottles, especially old vintages.
Another great wine shop – and there are several of them in Paris – is Nicolas (the closest one to us was 66 avenue Kleber). The shops have a great selection of wine, knowledgeable staff and are all over the city.
Next stop…La Cave des Galeries Lafayette, 35 Boulevard Haussmann. This wine shop within the gorgeous and extensive gourmet food section of Paris’ best and Europe’s largest department store (only Macy’s Herald Square in NYC is larger).
If you ever go to Paris, you MUST go to this place. It is food and wine heaven!
I left with a number of treasures, including an all-Meunier champagne, a Cote Rotie, a Condrieu and a Crozes-Hermitage.
last night, on the recommendation of Preston Mohr from the Wine Scholar Guild, who lives in the Marais, we went to a fabulous wine bar where they only serve natural, organic, biodynamic or sustainable wines. It’s called Magnum, at 26 rue Beautrellis, and has this crazy Magnum P.I. theme. What a place! The owner Nicolas is not only incredibly knowledgeable but such a fun person. I had an organic champagne and Drew had a beautiful Syrah from the Rhone, along with a snack of foie gras.
After the visit to Magnum, we walked next door to explore the small but well-appointed shop, Cave des Pyrenees (23 rue Beautrellis) The proprietor was so helpful and fund me a wine I’d never tries, from the French Basque white wine made from Petit and Gros Manseng. I am so excited to try this when I get home!
We also did the usual inexpensive, easy drinking wine shopping for our Apero time – the best place is Carrefours. For a little sweet bubbly after dinner back at the hotel room I tried a Clairette de Die – a blend of Muscat and Clairette that tastes like a lightly sweetened Prosecco. The perfect end to an evening in the City of Lights.
