Living in France, it’s hard to overestimate the prevalence and importance of wine. Not only is it a marker and reflection of the place where it’s made, but it’s an integral part of French culture and cuisine. It’s a natural pairing with meals and accompanies almost every gathering with friends and family.
Vin pétillant (sparkling natural wine) at L’Amitié in Montreuil
I like wine, but like most people in France, I’m an amateur. I know what I like and what I don’t like. But I’m taking more of an interest in wine to deepen my knowledge. So I’m fortunate to have friends like Preston Mohr, who’s an expert on wine but also knows how to communicate and explain wine in simple terms, without any pretense, so we can all get more enjoyment out of it.
I invited Preston into my Paris kitchen to talk about French wines — what to look for when buying French wine, how to order wine without feeling sheepish in a restaurant or café, and what to do if the wine you’ve been served isn’t to your liking. (Which was discussed in the comments here.)
We also chatted about how the French wine world has changed over the last few years, whether Beaujolais should be avoided, as well as his favorite wine bars in Paris.
Originally from Minnesota, Preston has called Paris home for the last twenty years. He’s the Managing Director of the Wine Scholar Guild, which connects wine lovers from around the world and offers certification programs for wine professionals and enthusiasts who want to learn more about wine, either in person, at one of 130 locations around the world, or online, at your own pace. In fact, I’m thinking of signing up!
We had lunch today at Le Cornichon and tried to power through this giant platter of frites (that were very good), but only managed to make a good-sized dent in them.
Next time…
In the meantime, enjoy listening to my chat with Preston.
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