Drink wine seasonally
The French choose their drinks according to the time of year. The harvest season in France begins in September, when the ripe fruit is picked and fermented. Just over two months later, the fine red wine is ready to serve the French. Beaujolais Nouveau is the most popular wine, which can be used from the first Thursday of November onwards.
The French associate winter with red wine. White and rosé wines are reserved for warmer weather. So don’t bring rosé to a winter party unless you want to be laughed at.
Know how to pair wine with food
In many countries, wine is prepared according to the dishes on the menu. The French take this more seriously. Wine is rarely served as an aperitif, white wine will be served with seafood and fish while red wine will be drunk with red meat and dishes cooked with tomatoes. Desserts will also require a separate wine instead of using the same wine throughout the meal.
Drink only French wine
The French may speak highly of Argentine reds or praise the world's white wines in small talk, but at the dinner table they stick to wines produced in their own country. Remember not to bring California rosé or any other foreign wine to a French party. To avoid losing points, always bring French wine.
How to open wine properly
The small blade at the end of the corkscrew is not just for decoration but also has its own function. Before pulling the cork out of the bottle, the French will trim the edge of the cork. And remember not to peel off all the tin around the neck of the wine bottle - this will make the French uncomfortable. However, remember to peel off enough so that when pouring, the wine does not touch the tin and lose its flavor.
Do not pour more than half a glass of wine.
Although the French love wine, they don’t drink much. It’s considered bad form to overfill your glass. While getting drunk is fine in the UK, it’s not a good look in the French. Drink moderately to maintain a classy image. Don’t worry if you haven’t had enough, the French will always top up your glass when they see it’s empty. If you want to stop, leave a little wine in your glass to signal to the host/party host.
Do not continue drinking alcohol after meals.
Unless you are with close friends, you should stop drinking when everyone around you has finished their glasses. If you want to continue drinking, you should switch to a post-meal wine (Cognac is a good choice). Wine is considered a main course and is not usually served before a meal. However, in France, there are five meals a day, so don't worry if you feel like drinking a fine French wine.
