Some of my favorite wine shops in Paris

I LOVE WINE.  I don't think I can put any more meaning into those 3 words!  And I am currently residing in the best place in the world for wine, France.  Nothing excites me more than going to a local neighborhood wine shop, even if I'm just browsing.  The regions, the grape varieties, the cepages, etc. The list is endless.  Paris is full of "cave a vins" which are specialized wine shops.  What I like about these stores rather than buying wine at the super market is that each shop usually stocks wines from specific producers.  Hence, every shop will generally have wines from very specific wines from small producers that you won't find else where.  Also, wine owners or sommeliers usually will give you excellent advice.  You can tell them what type of wine you're looking for, what kind of food you want to pair it with, along with the price range, and they will point out a few bottles for you.



Learning about wine is a challenge in itself.  There is just endless amount of information.  The best way to learn, of course, is to taste the wine.  Many fancy wine stores and restaurants will often have "cours des degustations", wine tasting courses.  However, these usually cost more than 80 Euros, and is way out of my budget.  Luckily, there are many wine shops in Paris that hold free tastings.  Some have them every Saturday, others do them once every so often.    But here are some that I frequent fairly often.

1. Les Caves de Taillevent
199 Rue du Faubourg Saint Honore, 75008 Paris
http://www.cavestaillevent.com/

Owned by the same people as the Michelin-starred restaurant "Le Taillevent" this wine store stocks some of the most prestigious wines from all over France.  Apparently the basement houses more than 150,000 bottles in it shop, which you would never know just by being inside the shop. 
Les Caves de Taillevent has something for you to taste every single day.  However, every Saturday they usually select 3 or 4 wines based on a specific theme, whether it's the grape, region, or one time it was "wine from the mountains."  I go so often now that all the sommeliers know me.  And even though I don't buy a lot of wines these (for obviously budget reasons!), they are still very friendly and willing to answer any questions that I have. 
This prestigious wine shop also has their own marque, the "Collections Taillevent" where they partner with 40 proprieters and chateaux in France.  They hold two sales every year, one in March and the other in September where a selection of wine is 20% off.  But better get there quick as the stock runs out fast!

2. Le Vin en Tête
Cave St. Georges
48 rue Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, 75009
Cave St. Placide
53 rue Saint Placide, 75006
Cave Batignolles
30 rue des Batignolles, 75017
http://levinentete.fr/

This friendly wine shop has 3 stores in Paris.  They supply many organic and natural wines.  The sommeliers there are always friendly and gives excellent advice.  They always have one or two bottles open for wine shoppers to taste.  Often they will hold tastings directly with the vignerons.  These are great opportunities to learn about wine from the people who produce them!  Tastings are usually Friday evenings and Saturday at the St. George store.  But it depends, I would say check their website for the latest tastings, however, it hasn't been updated recently.  Their wine is a little bit on the pricier side.

3. La Dernière Goutte
6 rue Bourbon le Chateau, 75006
http://ladernieregoutte.net/

This small wine shop in the St. Germain des Pres neighborhood is popular among English speakers, as the owner is Anglophone himself.  However don't let that deter you from going.  This shop stocks wines mainly from small producers of excellent quality.  Every Friday night from 17h30 to 19h30, they hold an informal "Happy Hour" where you get to taste a few wines along with some cheese.  On Saturdays they also hold an all day tasting.  Always fun and lively!

4. Le Cellier des Marchés
24, rue Mouton Duvernet 75014
http://www.cellierdesmarches.com/index.html

This is fast becoming probably my favorite wine shop in Paris.  One of the reasons being it's rather close to me.  They also stock wines from small producers across France.  I have rarely found wines in this stores else where.  The store attendant there is very knowledgeable and friendly, he always takes his time explaining each wine to me; and so far he has not recommended a bad wine to me.  The prices are very reasonable.  Usually they have 1 or 2 things to taste on Saturdays, except for when the truck shipment doesn't show up....

5. Les Caves de la Nation
55 avenue Philippe Auguste 75011
No website

I put down this wine store, because it is about 2 steps away from my office.  They stock some decent wines.  From time to time, one of my co-workers will go there and buy a bottle to drink at the park when the weather is nice.  The guy that works there is also very cute :)

6. Caves Auges
116 blvd Haussmann, 75008
http://www.cavesauge.com/

One of Paris' oldest wine shops.  Usually from March to June, they will host a grand monthly tasting based on a region in France.  The shop is worth going to just for browsing as their collection is quite overwhelming.  I do have to say the service isn't the greatest.

Saturday tasting at Cave Auges

Other wine stores that I like

La Cave des Papilles
35 rue Daguerre, 75014
http://www.lacavedespapilles.com/La_Cave_des_Papilles/La_Cave.html

La Cave des Martyrs
39 rue des Martyrs 75009

La Cave des Abbessess
43 rue des Abbesses, 75018

La Cave du Père Lachaise
3 Avenue Gambetta 75020
http://www.lacaveduperelachaise.com/