10 Must-try French Wines for less than 10 Euros

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Last Updated: June 2, 2023

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« La vie est trop courte pour boire du mauvais vin »

(Life is too short to drink bad wine)

Ahh, wine… That marvelously magical liquid that we French absolutely love. Wine has been given many names: poetry in a bottle, the Nectar of the Gods, and so forth. Galileo called it sunlight held together by water. Personally, I think it’s WIN with an ‘e’ in the end. But no matter what you choose to call it, you simply cannot round off a French vacation without grabbing a bottle (or two, or three).

french wine less 10 euros

The home of the prestigious wine-making regions like Burgundy, Bordeaux, and Champagne, some of the best wines in the world can be found here. This doesn’t mean, however, that you have to spend a fortune to try really good wine. When in France, you can actually head over to the supermarket (where most French people get their wine) or visit a cavist or wine store, like Nicolas, where you can also find a great selection of reasonably priced wines.

Choosing a decent bottle at an economical price can be intimidating when you are faced the sheer variety available. But, as always, I’ll try my best to help. Here are some handy tips, whether you’re in a holiday in France, or simply planning to open a bottle of best French wine in front of the TV:

  • Screw caps - Yay or Nay?

Contrary to popular belief, screw caps are great, especially for white wine, because they keep the wine fresh longer and prevent the bottle from being infected by bacteria in the cork. For more information, click here

  • Making sense of French wine labels?

French wine labels generally state the region rather than the type of grape, so I recommend that you learn a little about the wine regions, just in case you prefer a Syrah over a Merlot. For example, if you are looking for a bottle of Chardonnay, find a label that mentions the Burgundy region.

  • Price and quality?

There is definitely a relation between the two, but you can find a wide variety of good wine for a decent price, often under 10 euros (more on that later).

  • Ask for help!

Don´t hesitate to ask for help. There´s always a designated staff expert ready and willing to help you choose a good wine that fits your budget.

Having said that, here´s a list of 10 great French wines you can find in France for under 10 euros.

Red Wine:

1. Château du Bois de la Garde, Côtes du Rhône

Price: 9 euros

Chateau Du Bois De La Garde Cotes Du Rhone Rouge 2011

(source:www.ewinegallery.com)

Perfect for those who love medium- to full-bodied red wine. This distinctive red is made from 65% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 12% Carignan, and small quantities of Cinsault, Counoise, and Mourvedre. It has a deep ruby colour and includes dark fruit such raspberry and blackberry, and is laced with white pepper, cinnamon spice, and leather. This is a versatile French red wine that will go well with most white meat, aubergine dishes, mild cheeses, and vegetables.

2. Asda, Extra Special Beaujolais-Villages

Price: 5 euros

asda beaujolais villages

(source:vivino)

An absolute bargain! Made with Gamay grapes, this French red wine is light-bodied and dry red. It´s a juicy wine, with an aromas of cherries. On the palate, you´ll also find yourself tasting a mixture of berries with a hint of pepper on the finish.

This is your perfect everyday French red wine for washing down pastas, pizzas, and meat dishes for lunch or dinner.

3. Bouchard Aine&Fils Bourgogne, Pinot Noir

Price: 10 euros

bouchard aine fils bourgogne pinot noir 2011

(source:viner)

A light-bodied red wine, this Pinot Noir is characterised by its aromatic complexity and mild tannins. From the Burgundy region, it’s a brilliant cherry red with cherry and black cherry aromas along with hints of lime and mint and a bit of toasted oak on the finish.

A deliciously fruity Pinot Noir, that is very easy to drink and goes well with grilled or roasted red meats, light game, poultry, and mild cheeses.

White Wine:

4. La VieilleFerme, (Perrin&Fils), LuberonBlanc

Price: 5 euros

La VieilleFerme, (Perrin&Fils), LuberonBlanc, 2010

(source:winestyleonline)

A great everyday white wine that’s so refreshing! Clear and bright with a pale lemon colour and a presence of legs when swirled in the glass. On the nose you’ll smell intense aromas of lemon peel, green apples, fresh peaches, and also hints of vanilla, neutral white flower, and mint.

This Blanc is dry on the mouth with a medium- acidity and body. On the palate you’ll also taste lemon peel, green apple, peaches, and even some citrus fruits. It’s modestly priced, and as mentioned, it’s a great everyday wine to enjoy on a nice sunny day. If you want to pair it with something, it goes well with dried fruits, nuts, lighter fare, and summer salads.

5. Domaine La Hitaire, Les Tours White

Price: 8 euros

Domaine La Hitaire, Les Tours White, 2007

(source:winealign)

Don’t be fooled by the screwcap! Far from your typical buttery Chardonnay or herbal Sauvignon Blanc, this crispy, dry “vin de pays” (country wine) from Gascony is a fresh and easy to drink wine. It’s made with less familiar varietals such as UgniBlacn, and Colombard. This delicious, light, and crisp white has the aroma of pear and citrus fruits. On the palate you’ll taste lemon, grapefruit, orange blossom, and pear.

Originating from Southwest France, this white wine pairs well with lighter fare, white fish, chicken, and spring vegetables.

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6. Château Haut-Rian, Bordeaux Sec

Price: 10 euros

Château Haut-Rian, Bordeaux Sec, 2013

(source:cellartracker)

This delightful dry white wine is meant to be drunk young, cool, and fresh. Its golden green hue gives off scents of light citrus, newly cut hay, and minerals. On your palate you’ll taste citrus, melon, and mineral concentrations.

This Bordeaux Sec is extremely well-balanced and has a lingering finish, perfect as an aperitif, but is also delightful with fish and shellfish. You won’t find many other great dry white wines for so little!

Rosé Wine

7. Bieler Pere et Fils Sabine Rosé, AC CoteauxD’Aix

Price: 9 euros

Bieler Pere et Fils Sabine Rosé, AC CoteauxD’Aix, 2010

(source:winealign)

No summer afternoon is complete without a bit of a pretty, light, peach hued rosé from the Provence region. It’s light to medium-bodied and predominately made from Syrah with a bit of Grenache Noir and Cinsault varietals. Aromas in this wine include citrus, peach, grass, strawberry, as well as floral notes. On the palate you’ll find yourself tasting herbs, grass, and berry; it’s similar to a Sauvignon Blanc, but stronger in flavour!

This Syrah blend is delightful on its own but also pairs well with beef, lamb, and mature and hard cheeses.

8. Chateau Guiot Costieres de Nimes Rosé

Price: 10 euros

Chateau Guiot Costieres de Nimes Rosé, 2010

(source:livsstil)

Costieres de Nimes is the most southerly appellation of the Rhone region, and wines from this region are reputed to have been consumed by the Ancient Greeks, and therefore count among the oldest known wines in the world. Remember that while you drink this rosé!

This rosé is a gorgeous red raspberry colour and a blend of Grenache and Syrah. It is spicy and bold on the nose, yet medium-bodied and surprisingly fresh on the palate. You’ll taste flavours of red fruits such as plum, cherries, and strawberries, along with black pepper on the finish.

Like most rosés, it’s spectacular by itself, but it also goes well with summer salads, grilled tuna, oysters, and even sushi!

Cremant Wine

9. Cremant de Bourgogne brut Patriarche, NV

Price: 9.80 euros

Cremant de Bourgogne brut Patriarche, NV

(source:pinterest)

A perfect alternative to Champagne, this Cremant from the Burgundy region is made from Pinot Noir, and Gamay grapes, with hints of Aligote and Chardonay grapes. It’s a dry, light-bodied wine with the delicious aromas of almond, lemon, and crisp apple. The palate is melon rich with crisp apple at the end.

This mouth-watering, sparkling white wine, with elegant bubbles and a persistent finish pairs well with cold meats, grilled fish, and even pastries. And, like most Cremants and Champagnes, it´s also a perfect aperitif by itself!

10. Cremant de Bourgogne, Grande Cuvee Rosé, Veuve Ambal

Price: 7 euros

Cremant de Bourgogne, Grande Cuvee Rosé, Veuve Ambal

(source:querovinho)

This hard to resist Cremant Rose is appetising and truly great value. The four grape varieties include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Gamay and Aligote. This bubbly pink Cremant offers an explosion of intense flavours on the nose and on the palate of berries, and white peach flavours. It has a lengthy finish that is very impressive for a Rosé.

It´s an awesome sipper on its own, but if you want to accompany it, it´s ideal for light meals such as grilled fish or white meats. If you´re interested in pairing it with something sweet, this rosé goes great with red fruit desserts.


So there you have it --a few pointers for purchasing wine, as well as 10 splendid wines to try for under 10 euros. And oh, in case you’re wondering, that stereotype about French men drinking wine all day? Totally a myth.

Have you tried any of the wines mentioned, share which is the best French wine? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section.

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Here are some FAQs about French Wine

How do you say “wine” in French?

Le vin.

How much wine do the French drink?

Contrary to popular belief, the French don’t drink copious amounts of wine on a regular basis. They drink to enjoy the wine, and savour the flavour.

The French used to drink a lot more, with regular wine drinkers making up approximately 40% of the population. Today, that figure is less than 20%, as the average French person drinks about 53 bottles of wine a year. This averages to about one glass a day.

What is the most popular wine in France?

Bordeaux wines are the most popular!

Why is French wine famous?

Contrary to popular belief, the French did not invent wine, and were actually late to join the wine-making craze sweeping across Europe and their eastern neighbours. France might have started producing their own wine as early as 400 BC, after likely being taught by the Italians.

The reason winemaking became so dominant was due to an ancient landholding law that encouraged wine farmers to till a landowner’s field and create vineyards. The success of the vineyards meant a mutually beneficial relationship between the wine farmers and the landowners.

With the Christian Church’s growing influence, more land became available for wine farming, and monks were tasked to make wine in the various abbeys and monasteries all over France. The monks had been making wine for thousands of years and became experts in viniculture. Their techniques and discoveries are still being used today, including the most commonly used strains of grapes and wine blends in the industry.

About the author 

Frederic Bibard is the founder of Talk in French, a company that helps french learners to practice and improve their french. Macaron addict. Jacques Audiard fan. You can contact him on Instagram

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