The Best Wine Bars and Shops of Paris: Fifty Charming and Notable Cavistes

The Parisian wine scene-once so traditional and unchanging-has undergone an "amazing blossoming." There's a new vintage of wine bars and shops, run with verve and imagination by a young generation of up-and-coming cavistes. Yes, you'll still find dusty shops with creaky wooden floorboards and old casks that deserve to be on the "must see" list, but any serious or casual oenophile will want to know about the hip newcomers operating the new stylish venues. The Best Wine Bars & Shops of Paris profiles fifty of the most charming and reputable cavistes (and includes short descriptions of 28 additional worthwhile shops and wine bars). It's the newcomers who have changed the scene by feeling free to express very personal points of view. None seem to feel they have to stock a panorama of all French wines; some focus on organic or natural wines or lesser-known releases, those from sought-after microclimates or an in-depth selection of one region. And-a fun and practical addition-many offer inventive light meals and small plates, so if you want to uncork your bottle on the spot, you can do so in a congenial atmosphere, accompanied by delicious snacks. Throughout, the author recommends the most intriguing and delicious bottles on sale, and points out the distinctive characteristics of each shop or wine bar.