10 Must-Try French Wines Originally Priced at €10 or Less
A guide to choosing inexpensive – but really good — French wines, with the article’s original price quotes of €10 or less. Prices and availability vary by retailer, vintage and bottle size; these are historical quotes, not current offers.
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1. Château du Bois de la Garde, Côtes du Rhône2. Asda, Extra Special Beaujolais-Villages3. Bouchard Aîné & Fils Bourgogne, Pinot Noir4. La Vieille Ferme, (Perrin & Fils), Luberon Blanc5. Domaine La Hitaire, Les Tours White6. Château Haut-Rian, Bordeaux Sec7. Bieler Père et Fils Sabine Rosé, AC Coteaux d’Aix8. Château Guiot Costières de Nîmes Rosé9. Crémant de Bourgogne brut Patriarche, NV10. Crémant de Bourgogne, Grande Cuvée Rosé, Veuve AmbalHere are some FAQs about French Wine« 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. A saying attributed to Galileo describes wine as a mixture of moisture and light—loosely rendered as sunlight held together by water. Personally, I think it’s WIN with an ‘e’ at 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).
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 you can find a wide range of wines) or visit a caviste 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 with the sheer variety available. But, as always, I’ll try my best to help. Here are some handy tips, whether you’re on holiday in France, or simply planning to open a bottle of good French wine in front of the TV:
- Screw caps – Yay or Nay?
Contrary to popular belief, screw caps can be a great choice, especially for white wine: they can help preserve freshness and avoid cork-derived taint. Cork taint is a chemical taint, often associated with TCA, rather than a bottle infection. 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, look for white Bourgogne or Chablis and check the appellation or grape information on the label.
- 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. A caviste or knowledgeable staff member can help you choose a good wine that fits your budget.
Having said that, here’s the original list of 10 great French wines quoted at €10 or less. These are French wines, but individual retailer listings may not be available in France.
Red Wine:
1. Château du Bois de la Garde, Côtes du Rhône
Price: 9 euros
Perfect for those who love medium- to full-bodied red wine. The producer lists Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault, Counoise and Mourvèdre for this distinctive red; proportions can vary by vintage. It has a deep ruby colour and includes dark fruit such as 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
An absolute bargain! Made with Gamay grapes, this French red wine is light-bodied and dry. It’s a juicy wine, with 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 Aîné & Fils Bourgogne, Pinot Noir
Price: 10 euros
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 Vieille Ferme, (Perrin & Fils), Luberon Blanc
Price: 5 euros
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 palate with 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
Don’t be fooled by the screwcap! Far from your typical buttery Chardonnay or herbal Sauvignon Blanc, this crisp, dry “vin de pays” (country wine) from Gascony is a fresh and easy to drink wine. Its blend can vary by vintage. The 2017 Les Tours, for example, was listed with Ugni Blanc, Colombard and Gros Manseng in the Concours National des Vins IGP de France’s 2018 results. 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
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 Père et Fils Sabine Rosé, AC Coteaux d’Aix
Price: 9 euros
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, with Grenache and Syrah at the core of a blend that varies by vintage. The producer’s 2023 specification, for example, lists 50% Grenache and 20% Syrah. 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 Grenache–Syrah-based blend is delightful on its own but also pairs well with beef, lamb, and mature and hard cheeses.
8. Château Guiot Costières de Nîmes Rosé
Price: 10 euros
Costières de Nîmes is the most southerly appellation of the Rhône region, with a winegrowing history reaching back to Greek and Roman antiquity. Remember that long history 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!
Crémant Wine
9. Crémant de Bourgogne brut Patriarche, NV
Price: 9.80 euros
A perfect alternative to Champagne, this Crémant from the Burgundy region blends Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Gamay and Aligoté, according to Patriarche’s published technical sheet. 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 Crémants and Champagnes, it’s also a perfect aperitif by itself!
10. Crémant de Bourgogne, Grande Cuvée Rosé, Veuve Ambal
Price: 7 euros
This hard to resist Crémant Rosé is appetising and truly great value. The producer’s current technical sheet for Grande Cuvée Rosé lists Pinot Noir, Gamay and Chardonnay. This bubbly pink Crémant 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 originally quoted at €10 or less. And oh, in case you’re wondering, that stereotype about French men drinking wine all day? Totally a myth.
Here are some FAQs about French Wine
How do you say “wine” in French?
Le vin.
How much wine do the French drink?
Drinking habits vary among French people. Many wine drinkers enjoy it occasionally, savouring the flavour rather than drinking it throughout the day.
French wine consumption has fallen substantially over time. In FranceAgriMer and the CNIV’s 2022 survey of adults, 11% were regular wine drinkers (every day or almost every day), 51% were occasional drinkers and 37% were non-drinkers; rounded percentages total 99%. These categories describe frequency, not how many glasses each person drinks.
What is the most popular wine in France?
Bordeaux wines are among France’s best-known wines. Popularity varies by market and wine style.
Why is French wine famous?
Wine was made long before the vineyards of what is now France developed. A 2013 archaeological study found evidence of local winemaking at Lattara in southern France around 425–400 BC. The researchers suggest that imports of Etruscan wine from central Italy helped stimulate this local production.
One factor in the spread of vineyards during the Middle Ages, in regions such as Champagne, was the use of contrats de complant: agreements that encouraged growers to plant and tend vines on a landowner’s land. Growers and landowners shared the harvest or the property under the terms of their agreement.
With the Christian Church’s growing influence in the Middle Ages, abbeys and monasteries became important vineyard owners. In Burgundy, monks developed winegrowing expertise over generations, recording experiments and improving quality. Their work helped shape the region’s vineyards and the traditions that continue today.
