FAQ: Wine and French Etiquette - Your Ultimate Guide

🍷Q1: What is the difference between 'Grand Cru' and 'Premier Cru'?

Grand Cru wines come from the best vineyard plots, recognized for their exceptional terroir and quality. Premier Cru wines are also high quality, but not quite at the same level as Grand Cru.

Learn more about the wine classification system.

Q2: How to Conserve, Serve, and Taste Wine Like a Sommelier?

Mastering wine appreciation like a sommelier doesn’t require formal training—it simply means learning to store, serve, and taste wine with care and intention. Here’s how to elevate your wine experience at home, step by step.

1. Storing Wine Properly

To preserve wine in the best possible condition, it should be stored in a cool, dark place with a stable temperature between 12 and 16°C (54–61°F). Humidity should be kept around 60 to 70% to prevent corks from drying out, which can let air in and spoil the wine. Wine bottles should be laid on their sides, especially those with natural corks, to keep the cork moist.

2. Serving Wine Correctly

The way you serve wine has a major impact on how it tastes. Temperature is key: red wines are best served slightly cooler than room temperature between 12 and 18°C (54-65°F), while white wines show their best qualities when served between 8 and 13°C (46-55°F). Rosé wines shine around 8 to 10°C (46-50°F), and sparkling wines are most refreshing when served cold—around 6 to 10°C (43-50°F).

Learn more with our complete guide on wine serving temperatures.

Glassware also matters. Red wines are usually served in larger, rounder glasses that allow the aromas to develop, while white wines benefit from narrower glasses that preserve their freshness. Sparkling wines should be served in flutes or tulip glasses to maintain their bubbles and concentrate the aromas.

Read our article about the importance of the right wine glass.

3. Tasting Wine Like a Sommelier

Tasting wine like a professional involves paying close attention with all your senses.

• First, look at the wine. Observe its color, clarity, and viscosity (the “legs” or streaks left on the glass). The color can give clues about the grape variety, the wine’s age, and even its structure.

• Next, smell the wine. Swirl the glass gently to release its aromas, then inhale deeply through your nose. Try to identify what you smell: fruits, flowers, spices, herbs, wood, earth, or mineral notes. Don’t worry about being “right”—it’s more about training your senses and making personal connections.

• Now, taste. Take a small sip and let the wine roll over your tongue. Pay attention to the balance of sweetness, acidity, tannins (that drying feeling, especially in red wines), alcohol, and body. Note the flavor intensity and how long the taste lingers after swallowing—this is known as the finish.

Sommeliers often spit wine during tastings, especially when evaluating many bottles in one session. This keeps their palate fresh and allows them to stay focused.

Q3: Is it okay to toast with water in France?

In French culture, it’s generally considered impolite to toast with water. When making a toast, it’s expected that you raise a glass of wine, champagne, or sometimes even a spirit (like cognac). Water is seen as an essential element at the table but is not typically used in toasts.

Learn about French table etiquette.

Q4: Why is it important to decant wine?

This can be a bit confusing: in France, we make a distinction between two actions. We use décanter to remove sediment from older wines, and carafer to aerate younger wines. In English, however, both are usually referred to as “decanting.” So when you decant a young wine (carafer), the goal is to aerate it, helping to release its aromas and soften the flavors. When you decant an older wine (décanter), the purpose is to separate it from the sediment that naturally forms over time.

Learn when and how to decant wine.

🌱Q5: What is 'terroir' in wine?

Terroir refers to the environmental factors that influence a wine’s taste, including soil, climate, and geography. It plays a crucial role in defining a wine’s unique characteristics.

Explore the role of terroir in wine production.

📍Q6: What are the most important wine regions in France?

Some of the most well-known French wine regions include Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, the Rhône Valley, and the Loire Valley—each celebrated for its unique wine styles and terroirs.

However, these aren't necessarily the largest or only wine-producing areas in France. Other regions such as Languedoc-Roussillon (the largest in terms of vineyard surface), Alsace, Provence, Jura, Savoie, and Corsica also produce exceptional and diverse wines that are gaining more international recognition.

France's wine landscape is incredibly rich and varied—every region has its own personality shaped by climate, soil, grape varieties, and tradition.

Explore the French wine regions.

Q7: How do I choose a wine for a formal dinner party?

Choose wines that complement the courses served. A red wine like Bordeaux pairs well with hearty meats, while a crisp white like Chardonnay is ideal for seafood.

Explore the ultimate guide to wine pairings.

Q8: Should I always finish my glass of wine?

In formal settings, it’s not necessary to finish your glass of wine. However, it's polite to drink at least a little, especially during a toast. If you need to stop drinking, it’s acceptable to leave a small amount in the glass, but you should avoid doing so too often as it may be seen as disrespectful.

Read our article on french table and wine etiquette for beginners and get your free PDF downlaod guidebook

Q9: Can I ask for a wine refill at a dinner party?

In some cultures, particularly in France, it may be considered impolite to ask for a refill unless the host offers it first. The host generally fills your glass if needed, but in some casual settings, it’s perfectly fine to politely ask for a top-up if your glass is empty.

Q10: Is it rude to ask for a wine sample before buying it?

In many French wine shops and restaurants, you can ask for a sample before purchasing, especially if you are unsure about the wine. This is particularly true for fine wine merchants or when ordering wine by the glass at a restaurant. Just be polite and courteous when requesting a taste.

🍇Q11: What’s the difference between red, white, and rosé wine?

• Red wine: Made from dark-skinned grapes, fermented with the skins, which gives it color and tannins.

• White wine: Usually made from white grapes (or dark grapes without skin contact), so it stays pale.

• Rosé wine: Made from dark grapes, but the skin contact is short—just long enough to give it that pink hue.

Learn more about the importance of grape varieties (cépages) in winemaking.

Q12: What is a “still wine”?

A still wine is simply a wine without bubbles—no carbonation. It can be red, white, or rosé. For example: A red Bordeaux is a still wine. Champagne is a sparkling wine.

Read our Step-by-Step Guide from Vineyard to Bottle.

⚖️Q13: What’s the difference between Champagne and Crémant?

• Champagne is a sparkling wine produced exclusively in the Champagne region of France, following strict production rules (specific grapes, aging time, traditional method, etc.).

• Crémant is also a sparkling wine, made outside Champagne (in regions like Alsace, Burgundy, Loire, etc.), but often using the same traditional method.

So, Champagne is technically a type of crémant—but not all crémants are Champagne. It’s mainly about region and designation.

Q14: What is the difference between organic wine and conventional wine?

The main difference lies in the practices used in the vineyard and during winemaking.

Organic wine:

• In the vineyard: No synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers. Growers use natural methods to protect the vines—such as copper, sulfur, compost, and biodiversity-friendly farming.

• In the winery: The use of additives is strictly limited (e.g., lower sulfite levels). Winemaking follows certified organic standards set by official bodies like AB (France) or USDA Organic (USA).

• Certification required: To be labeled organic, the wine must meet these standards and be officially certified.

Conventional wine:

• In the vineyard: Use of synthetic chemicals is allowed to prevent disease, fertilize, or control weeds.

• In the winery: A wider range of additives and technological interventions is permitted to stabilize, correct, or enhance the wine.

• No certification required for conventional production.

Key takeaway: Organic wine reflects a commitment to environmental protection, healthier farming practices, and often a more artisanal approach. However, this doesn't always mean the wine will taste better—quality still depends on the winemaker’s skill and style.

Want to dive deeper? Read our guide to organic, biodynamic, and natural wines.

🌱Q15: Are organic wines vegan?

Not always. An organic wine is not automatically vegan, as these two concepts follow different sets of criteria.

Organic wine: Follows environmentally-friendly practices—no synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers, and promotes soil health and biodiversity. However, animal-derived products can still be used during winemaking, especially in the fining process (used to clarify the wine).

Why are some wines not vegan?

During fining, winemakers may use:

• Egg whites (ovalbumin)

• Gelatin (from pork or fish)

• Casein (a milk protein)

• Isinglass (derived from fish bladder)

These substances help clarify the wine, but they are not suitable for a vegan diet.

What about vegan wines?

Vegan wines use no animal products, either in the vineyard or in the cellar.

Plant-based alternatives for fining include:

• Pea protein

• Bentonite clay

• Activated charcoal

Key takeaway: A wine can be organic but not vegan, or vegan but not organic. To be sure, look for the word “Vegan” or a certified vegan logo on the label.

🍷Q16: Can you find French halal or kosher wine?

Yes, both kosher and halal wines are produced in France—though there are some important differences to understand between the two.

French Kosher Wine - What is kosher wine?

Kosher wine is produced in accordance with Jewish dietary laws (kashrut). To be certified kosher:

• All ingredients (including additives, yeast, etc.) must be kosher.

• From the moment the grapes are crushed, only observant Jews may handle the wine.

• Equipment must be thoroughly cleansed according to religious requirements.

• Many kosher wines are also "mevushal" (flash-pasteurized) so they remain kosher even if later handled by non-Jews.

Where is it made? Several French wineries—especially in Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Rhône Valley, and Provence—produce kosher wine. You can find it in kosher grocery stores, online, or in select wine shops.

French Halal Wine - Can wine be halal?

A "halal wine" is actually a dealcoholized wine—a beverage made from fermented grapes that has had the alcohol removed.

To be considered halal:

• It must contain no alcohol (or, in some cases, less than 0.1%).

• All ingredients must be halal-certified (no non-halal animal-derived additives, for instance).

• The production process may also be subject to halal certification.

Where to find it? Halal wines (non-alcoholic versions of Merlot, Chardonnay, Bordeaux, etc.) are available in specialty stores, halal shops, and online. They are often labeled as non-alcoholic wine or grape-based drinks.

Q17: What is the significance of vintage in wine?

Vintage refers to the year the grapes were harvested. A good vintage typically means the weather was favorable for growing high-quality grapes.

Decode the terminology of French wine with our expertly curated glossary.

Q18: How do I know if a wine is too old to drink?

Not all wines are made to age—many are meant to be enjoyed within a few years of bottling. If youare unsure whether a wine has aged well or gone bad, here are a few signs to look for:

• Smell: If the wine gives off unpleasant aromas like vinegar, wet cardboard, mustiness, or nail polish remover, it’s likely oxidized or corked.

• Appearance: A red wine that has turned brownish or a white wine that looks deep golden to amber may have aged beyond its best—though this isn’t always a fault depending on the style.

• Taste: If the wine tastes flat, sour, or overly acidic, or if all the flavors seem faded or unbalanced, it may be past its prime.

⌛Q19: Can wine improve with age?

Not all wines are meant to age. Generally, high-quality red wines like Bordeaux, Burgundy, or Vin Jaune (yellow wine) from Jura have aging potential. However, most wines are best enjoyed within a few years. It depends on the grape varieties (cépages) and the winemaking techniques used.

Q20: What makes a wine dry, semi-dry, sweet, or dessert-like (liquoreux)?

It all comes down to the residual sugar—the sugar that remains after fermentation:

• Dry wine / Vin sec: Very little sugar (less than 4 g/L)

• Off-dry or semi-dry / Vin demi-sec: A touch of sweetness (4–12 g/L)

• Sweet wine / Vin doux: Noticeably sweet (12–45 g/L)

• Dessert wine / Vin liquoreux: Very sweet, rich in sugar (often 45+ g/L), usually made from very ripe or botrytized grapes (affected by noble rot, or pourriture noble)

Q21: What is “dosage” in wine?

Dosage is a term used in sparkling wines like Champagne. After removing the yeast sediment (disgorgement), a mixture of wine and sugar is added to adjust the taste. Examples:

• Brut Nature / Zero Dosage: No sugar added

• Brut: Low sugar

• Demi-sec / Doux: Noticeably sweet