Demystifying French Wine: How to Pick the Perfect French Wine

French Wines Made Easy

There's something about wine that makes it feel like this elusive club. Either you know a lot about wine and can speak at length about tasting notes, varietals, terroir and the like or you feel like an outsider. I'm here to give you a quick and easy crash course to French wines. And honestly, if you can name drop a few of these wines you'll probably impress even the best of the wine snobs!

So let's start with Old World versus New World wines. Old World wines are European wines and New World wines are all the up and comers like the United States and the like. For us here in the States, we talk about wine in terms of varietal such as Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot etc. But in Europe, they talk about wine in terms of region. So for our French wine list I'll be listing some top wines from several different regions in France that have vastly different terroir, or growing conditions.

The Ultimate French Wine List

🍷 1. Loire Valley – Crisp White

Style: Sauvignon Blanc
Wine: La Petite Perrière Sauvignon Blanc

• Store: Meijer or Plum Market

• Approx. Price: $11–$13

• Why it’s great: Bright citrus and grassy notes—refreshing and easy to drink. Great value Loire-style Sauvignon Blanc.

🍯 2. Loire Valley – Off-Dry White

Style: Chenin Blanc (Demi-Sec)
Wine: Domaine des Baumard Cuvée Ancienne Vigne Vouvray

• Store: Plum Market

• Approx. Price: $18–$22

• Why it’s great: Floral, lightly sweet with balancing acidity. A charming and food-friendly wine.

🍒 3. Burgundy – Light Red

Style: Pinot Noir
Wine: Louis Jadot Bourgogne Pinot Noir

• Store: Meijer, Plum Market, Trader Joe’s

• Approx. Price: $18–$22

• Why it’s great: Classic entry-level Burgundy. Light, earthy, and balanced with cherry fruit.

🍋 4. Burgundy – Unoaked White

Style: Chardonnay (unoaked)
Wine: Louis Jadot Mâcon-Villages

• Store: Meijer, Plum Market

• Approx. Price: $15–$18

• Why it’s great: Fresh, citrus-driven Chardonnay—no oak, perfect for sipping or pairing with lighter fare.

🌶 5. Rhône Valley – Medium-Bodied Red

Style: Grenache-Syrah-Mourvèdre (GSM) blend
Wine: E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône Rouge

• Store: Meijer, Plum Market

• Approx. Price: $15–$18

• Why it’s great: Reliable, spicy red with depth and smoothness. Excellent with grilled meats.

🍓 6. Rhône Valley – Fruitier GSM Blend

Style: Lighter GSM
Wine: Famille Perrin Côtes du Rhône Réserve

• Store: Plum Market, occasionally Trader Joe’s

• Approx. Price: $12–$15

• Why it’s great: Ripe red fruit and soft spice. A more approachable take on the Rhône blend.

🪵 7. Bordeaux – Classic Structured Red

Style: Cabernet-Merlot Blend (Left Bank)
Wine: Château Greysac Médoc

• Store: Plum Market, sometimes Meijer

• Approx. Price: $22–$26

• Why it’s great: Firm, elegant, and savory. Classic Bordeaux structure but still drinkable now.

🍇 8. Bordeaux – Softer, Fruity Red

Style: Right Bank–style Merlot Blend
Wine: Château Recougne Bordeaux Supérieur

• Store: Plum Market, sometimes Trader Joe’s

• Approx. Price: $14–$17

• Why it’s great: Softer tannins, ripe plum, and a velvety finish. Good starter Bordeaux.

🌼 9. Alsace – Aromatic White

Style: Dry Riesling
Wine: Trimbach Riesling

• Store: Plum Market

• Approx. Price: $23–$27

• Why it’s great: Crisp, clean, and mineral-driven. Excellent pairing with seafood or Thai dishes.

🌸 10. Provence – Dry Rosé

Style: Rosé (Cinsault/Grenache-based)
Wine: La Vieille Ferme Rosé

• Store: Trader Joe’s, Meijer, Plum Market

• Approx. Price: $8–$10

• Why it’s great: A go-to budget Provence rosé—dry, light, with bright berry and citrus notes. Very drinkable.

French Wine and Food Pairings

Now that you've selected your perfect wine you're off and running. Or maybe you're stuck trying to figure out what kind of wine goes best with the meal you've already planned out. Don't worry, I've got you covered!

Below are some great food pairings for each wine. So you can either start by selecting a wine on the list above that sounds delicious and then grab the snacks to go with it. Or you can do the reverse and find the same flavor profile as your meal and select the appropriate wine. I will say wine is more forgiving than you've probably been made out to believe. There are tons "rules" about wine and food pairings. But more and more the trend is to buck all of these rules. So find what tastes good to you and pair it with lots of different foods and see what you like, that's all the matters!

🍋 1. La Petite Perrière Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Loire Valley
Style: Crisp white
Pairing: Goat Cheese & Herb Salad

• Why: Loire Sauvignon Blanc and goat cheese are a classic pairing. Add fresh greens, lemon vinaigrette, and herbs for brightness.

🍯 2. Domaine des Baumard Cuvée Ancienne Vigne Vouvray (Demi-Sec)

Region: Loire Valley
Style: Off-dry white
Pairing: Spicy Thai Chicken with Jasmine Rice

• Why: The subtle sweetness balances spicy dishes and enhances aromatic flavors beautifully.

🍒 3. Louis Jadot Bourgogne Pinot Noir

Region: Burgundy
Style: Light red
Pairing: Herb-Roasted Chicken with Mushrooms

• Why: Earthy mushrooms echo the Pinot’s terroir, while the delicate chicken keeps the pairing light and elegant.

🍋 4. Louis Jadot Mâcon-Villages (Unoaked Chardonnay)

Region: Burgundy
Style: Fresh white
Pairing: Lemon Butter Sole or White Fish

• Why: Light fish with a buttery lemon sauce mirrors the wine’s citrusy freshness and minerality.

🌶 5. E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône Rouge

Region: Rhône Valley
Style: Medium-bodied red (GSM blend)
Pairing: Grilled Lamb Chops with Rosemary

• Why: The wine’s peppery spice and body complement grilled meats and bold herbs like rosemary and thyme.

🍓 6. Famille Perrin Côtes du Rhône Réserve

Region: Rhône Valley
Style: Fruity red (GSM blend)
Pairing: Charcuterie Board with Hard Cheeses & Cured Meats

• Why: A crowd-pleasing pairing that works well for appetizers, picnics, or light dinners with a rustic feel.

🪵 7. Château Greysac Médoc

Region: Bordeaux (Left Bank)
Style: Structured red (Cabernet blend)
Pairing: Beef Bourguignon or Steak Frites

• Why: Hearty meat dishes with depth match the structure and savory notes of Médoc reds.

🍇 8. Château Recougne Bordeaux Supérieur

Region: Bordeaux
Style: Soft red (Merlot-based)
Pairing: Pasta Bolognese

• Why: The smooth tannins and red fruit flavors pair well with a tomato-based meat sauce—cozy and familiar.

🌼 9. Trimbach Riesling

Region: Alsace
Style: Dry aromatic white
Pairing: Shrimp Tacos with Lime Crema or Asian Noodle Stir-Fry

• Why: This dry Riesling cuts through spice and bright flavors—great with seafood or lightly spicy dishes.

🌸 10. La Vieille Ferme Rosé

Region: Provence
Style: Dry rosé
Pairing: Niçoise Salad or Grilled Vegetable Platter

• Why: A classic Provençal rosé shines with tuna, olives, tomatoes, and summer vegetables. Also great with picnic fare.

Muscadet: My Favorite French Wine

I've saved my favorite French wine for last, Muscadet. If you're a fan of Sauvignon Blanc even in the slightest you'll love this wine. My husband and I typically go for Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand which have a beautiful expression with lots of citrus and lemon grass. But Muscadet is much more nuanced and delicate. For anyone wanting to start their journey into French wines, I'd recommend starting here. The only trouble is that it's not very easy to find in most stores. I will say Plum Market has had several each time we've gone but beyond that I'm usually empty handed. Check out one of my top picks below!

🍈 Domaine de la Pépière Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie

• Region: Loire Valley (Nantais)

• Style: Dry, mineral white

• Approx. Price: $15–$18

• Where to buy: Plum Market or Meijer (especially if they have a good wine selection)

• Pairing: Oysters, Mussels, or Lemon-Herb Roast Chicken

  • Why: Muscadet’s saline edge and bracing acidity are tailor-made for shellfish and simple poultry dishes.

French Wine Take Aways

I hope that this list gives you the push you needed to try something new. Whether you've been into wine for years or just trying to find where to start there are some great picks on this list to get you started!