French Wine Vocabulary: Essential Terms and Expressions

Wine in France is a religion. French wine is renowned worldwide for its quality and deep-rooted cultural significance. It represents more than just a beverage; it is a testament to centuries of tradition, craftsmanship, and the unique terroirs that define the regions of France. Now that you are in France, you are eager and ready to practice your French in a restaurant with a native speaker.

I am sharing useful French wine vocabulary terms and expressions to use with the waiter or sommelier while ordering wine in French at a restaurant. Audio to help you to pronounce is included to help to pronounce correctly in French.

1. Types of Wine

• Un vin rouge - Red wine

• Un vin blanc - White wine

• Un vin rosé - Rosé wine

• Un vin pétillant - Sparkling wine

• Un champagne - Champagne (specific to the Champagne region)

• Un vin naturel - Natural wine

• Un vin bio (biologique) - Organic wine

2. Pronunciation of the different wines

Bordeaux

Bourgogne

Champagne

Vallée du Rhône

Vallée de la Loire

Alsace

Provence

Languedoc-Roussillon

3. Ask Questions to the sommelier or to the waiter/waitress

In most restaurants, you will be asked “Voulez-vous du vin?” (Would you like some wine?). You can choose to have it “au verre” (by the glass) or “à la bouteille” (by the bottle). In a fine dining restaurant, you will have a “sommelier” (wine steward) giving you advice on which wine to choose according to the types of meats and flavors you ordered. If you hesitate or simply need recommendations, here is a list of questions you can ask, starting with the most general ones and progressing to more specific ones about the types of wines you wish to drink.

• Est-ce que vous avez la carte des vins, s’il vous plaît ? - Do you have the wine list, please?

• Est-ce que vous servez du vin au verre ? - Do you serve wine by the glass?

• Est-ce que vous avez des demi-bouteilles ? - Do you offer half-bottles of wine?

• Quelles sont vos suggestions pour le vin ? - What are your wine suggestions?

• Quel vin recommandez-vous avec ce plat ? - What wine do you recommend with this dish?

• Pouvez-vous me parler du terroir de ce vin ? - Can you tell me about the terroir of this wine?

• Quel est le meilleur vin de votre carte pour accompagner ce plat ?- What is the best wine on your list to accompany this dish?

• D’où provient ce vin? - Where does this wine come from?

• Quel cépage est utilisé dans ce vin? - What grape variety is used in this wine?

  4. Describe the characteristics of a wine

Here is a list of adjectives in French with their English translations, which will allow you to express all the nuances of a wine. This list can also help guide the sommelier or server towards the wine characteristics that you enjoy. Pronounciation is included above.

• Minéral - Mineral

• Boisé - Oaky (or Woody)

• Fruité - Fruity

• Épicé - Spicy

• Floral - Floral

• Herbacé - Herbaceous

• Corsé - Full-bodied

• Léger - Light-bodied

• Acide - Acidic

• Rond - Round

• Tannique - Tannic

• Velouté - Velvety

• Charnu - Fleshy

• Complexe - Complex

• Aromatique - Aromatic

• Puissant - Powerful

• Subtil - Subtle

• Équilibré - Balanced

5. How to Express Your Tastes and Preferences in French About Wines

Now that you know the characteristics of wines, you can guide the server or sommelier with simple phrases using precise and nuanced vocabulary. Pronounciation is included above.

• J’aime les vins légers et frais. - I like light and fresh wines.

• J’aime les vins pétillants. - I like sparkling wines.

• Je préfère les vins fruités. - I prefer fruity wines.

• J’ai une préférence pour les vins blancs secs. - I have a preference for dry white wines.

• J’aime assez les vins liquoreux. - I quite like sweet wines.

• J’aime les vins subtils et élégants. - I like subtle and elegant wines.

• J’aime les cépages de Bourgogne comme le Chardonnay ou le Pinot noir. - I like grape varieties from Burgundy such as Chardonnay or Pinot Noir.

• J’aime assez les vins minéraux. - I quite like mineral wines.

• J’aime les notes végétales dans un vin. - I like the vegetal notes in a wine.

6. How to Order Wine in French

Now that you have overcome your fear of speaking French with the sommelier and are starting to feel more relaxed, well done! You have made your choice and are now ready to order. Here are the expressions you can use:

• Je vais prendre un Nuit-Saint-Georges. - I will have a Nuit-Saint-Georges.

• Je voudrais une bouteille de Saint-Émilion. - I would like a bottle of Saint-Émilion.

• J’ai choisi un Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2012. - I have chosen a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2012.

7. 10 Words to Compliment a Wine

Here is a list of adjectives with very positive meanings to describe the characteristics of your wine favorably.

• Équilibré - Balanced

• Complexe - Complex

• Rond - Round

• Velouté - Velvety

• Aromatique - Aromatic

• Harmonieux - Harmonious

• Élégant - Elegant

• Structuré - Structured

• Généreux - Generous

• Subtil - Subtle

  8. Phrases for Commenting on a Wine

You are very pleased with your choice; this wine suits you perfectly. It pairs well with the dishes you have ordered. You want to compliment the server or sommelier in French, of course! Here is a list of phrases you can use that will impress your interlocutor.

• Ce vin est très équilibré avec des saveurs riches et complexes. - This wine is very balanced with rich and complex flavors.

• J'adore l'arôme fruité de ce vin. - I love the fruity aroma of this wine.

• Ce vin a une belle longueur en bouche. - This wine has a beautiful finish.

• Ce vin a un bouquet très complexe. - This wine has a very complex bouquet.

• La finale est longue et agréable. - The finish is long and pleasant.

• Ce vin a un bon équilibre entre les tanins et l'acidité. - This wine has a good balance between tannins and acidity.

  9. 10 Words to Criticize a Wine

  You are disappointed with the wine you ordered and wish to express your frustration in French. Here is a list of adjectives to use in these situations, hoping of course that they happen to you as rarely as possible.

• Décevant - Disappointing

• Fade - Bland

• Médiocre - Mediocre

• Plat - Flat

• Déséquilibré - Unbalanced

• Trop acide - Too acidic

• Amer - Bitter

• Ennuyeux - Dull

• Lourd - Heavy

• Terne - Lackluster

10. Sentences to Express Disappointment in a Wine

You would like to justify your disappointment in French and explain to the server or sommelier what you didn't like.

• Ce vin manque de profondeur et de complexité. - This wine lacks depth and complexity.

• Je trouve ce vin trop acide et déséquilibré. - I find this wine too acidic and unbalanced.

• Les arômes sont faibles et peu intéressants. - The aromas are weak and uninteresting.

• Ce vin est vraiment fade et sans caractère. - This wine is really bland and characterless.

• La finale est courte et décevante. - The finish is short and disappointing.

11. Wine Tasting in Paris: Our Best Addresses

If you can't visit the regions, Paris offers numerous spots to enjoy excellent wine and practice your French.

• O Château (1st arrondissement) offers wine tastings and classes in English, perfect for beginners.

• La Cave du Septime (11th arrondissement) is a trendy spot attached to a renowned restaurant, offering a great variety of natural wines.

• Les Caves du Louvre (1st arrondissement) offers the opportunity to learn more about French wine in an authentic wine cellar close to the Louvre.

• Les Caves Legrand (2nd arrondissement): Lucien Legrand, the founder, invented the wine merchant's profession by selecting wines directly from the wine growers.

  12. The Designation of Wines Based on the Region
  

·       Un Bordeaux (Bordeaux) Appellations: Bordeaux, Bordeaux Supérieur, Médoc, Saint-Émilion, Pomerol, Graves, Sauternes, Pauillac, Margaux, etc. Bordeaux is known for its red blends, primarily made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec.

·       Un Bourgogne (Burgundy) Appellations : Chablis, Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune, Côte Chalonnaise, Mâconnais, Beaujolais, etc. Burgundy is renowned for its Pinot Noir (red) and Chardonnay (white) wines.

·       Un Champagne: Appellation Champagne. The Champagne region exclusively produces sparkling wine called Champagne, using primarily Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes.

·       Vallée du Rhône (Rhône Valley) Appellations : Côtes du Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie, Crozes-Hermitage, Gigondas, etc. The Northern Rhône primarily produces Syrah (red) and Viognier (white), while the Southern Rhône is known for its blends, including Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre.

·       Vallée de la Loire (Loire Valley) Appellations : Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, Vouvray, Chinon, Muscadet, Anjou, Saumur, etc. The Loire Valley produces a wide range of wines, including Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc, and Muscadet.

·       Alsace (Alsace) Appellations : Alsace Grand Cru, Crémant d'Alsace, etc. Alsace is known for its aromatic white wines, such as Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Blanc. It also produces sparkling wines under the Crémant d'Alsace designation.

·       Provence (Provence) Appellations : Côtes de Provence, Bandol, Cassis, Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence, etc. Provence is primarily known for its rosé wines, often made from Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Mourvèdre, and Tibouren.

·       Languedoc-Roussillon (Languedoc-Roussillon) Appellations : Languedoc, Corbières, Minervois, Pic Saint-Loup, Côtes du Roussillon, etc. This region produces a diverse range of wines, including reds, whites, rosés, and sparkling wines, often made from Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan, and Chardonnay.