picky

I have been to Europe at least 18-20 times since perhaps before you were born in 1969. Have travelled virtually every country in Europe, plus China, Japan,Singapore, Thailand, HK, Turkey Israel and places most of you haven't ever been to. I simply know that in some restaurants they automatically put down wine in France as they put out a plate of olives, cheese etc. in Portugal and charge you unless you know enough to say you don't want it. I haven't been to France in about 5 years so I forgot the protocol about wine & meals.

GeoffHamer

I have travelled all over France on many visits over the past thirty years and cannot remember a restaurant where wine was obligatory. Many French people drink mineral water with a meal: it's not actually a nation of alcoholics. On the rare occasions when drinks are included with a set meal, you can have mineral water instead of wine. One feature of France is that children will accompany their parents to a restaurant and eat a meal - they cannot legally be served wine, so water or a soft drink are always an alternative.
Why worry about an imagined problem before you get there?

uhoh_busted

Wine isn't automatically provided unless it is included as part of a "menu," of the day. Even if they did set a carafe down in front of you as part of a "menu" you can tell them you don't want it and they will take it back.

StCirq

picky:

Somewhere in all those travels I think you got mixed up. As we described in great detail to you on your previous post, it is very, very uncommon for restaurants in France to plunk a bottle of wine down on your table without you asking for it. It happens once in a while in truck stop restaurants out in the country that cater to routiers, but no matter, even if it were to happen, which is highly unlikely, you don't have to pay for the wine...

So what is your issue?

jsmith

Picky, we don't have your credentials. Our travels have been limited to Europe. In numerous visits to France since 1958 we have never been in a restaurant that served wine without it being requested.

An exception might be a special occasion, the release of Beaujolais Nouveau, for example, where
a special menu and wine are paired.

Your contention is essentially a non-starter.

suze

Picky, Why do we now have two threads talking about this same silly subject?

Since you are so old and darn well traveled, I would think you could figure this one out for yourself.

suze

<in some restaurants they automatically put down wine... and charge you unless you know enough to say you don't want it>

Actually I see the answer is in your own post "say you don't want it".

Scarlett

there are restaurants in Paris that have a bottle of hosue wine on the table ( Petit Benoit comes to mind) but you are only charged if you open the bottle and drink the wine.
As far as I know, having been to Paris a few times, there is No protocol for wine at meals, you order it and drink it or you don't.
and if someone were to put a bottle of wine on my table, if I did not speak the language, I would still be able to shake my head and give the waiter back the bottle.
Don't worry about it, go, have fun.

Leely

As a pretty dedicated wine drinker, but, unfortunately, not a connoisseur, I'm dying to go to these places where they give you the wine without your asking.

It did happen at L'Avant Gout in Paris, but it was a special menu for Christmas Eve. I LOVED it.

I'll drink your wine for you, picky.

suze

I'll drink to that, Leely!

ThinGorjus

I'm laughing my arse off at Picky's post. I have been to all the counries you mention, plus numerous others. I can brag too. Have you ever had dinner with the Maharaja of Jaipur? I have. Have you ever flown on the Concord (about 10x for me) with people who's names are usually found on the front page of the New York Times? I have. Have you ever been down a river in Cambodia in a canoe? I have.

Get off your high horse, chav.

ThinGorjus

Sorry, I meant 'whose' not 'who's.'

kenderina

I don't drink wine...so I just say NO, here in Spain , in France or in the North Pole (well, maybe there I need the wine to keep me warm )

alya

ThinGorjus

has the descripton 'chav' travelled from the UK already?

elaine

"unless you know enough to say you don't want it."

Aha!
(sorry ira)

You have no idea how many countries I've been to. I don't care how many you've been to, so that's about even.
In previous postings you've bragged about your vast travel experience, as you do here again; your worrying about having wine foisted upon you (what do you think they do,use a funnel?) is quite mystifying.

The best part of this posting is the "before you were born in 1969."
Makes me feel quite youthful

ThinGorjus

Sweetie, if you had a clue you would know that I was born in London. Where have you been? Obviously not a member of the Inner Circle.

Cheers,
John G.

alya

ThinGorjus

was your 'sweetie' post a reply to my query about the use of the word Chav?

I've never heard it used in the US.

alya

Ok, I've just read Elaine's post - The mist is lifting

rex

<<what do you think they do,use a funnel?) ...>>

Hey, I think I will claim that this is what happened to me, when my autopsy shows - - someday - - "foie ivre"!



Salut! hic... and...

Best wishes,

Rex

Scarlett

picky and Mrs picky are in their 80's so perhaps he can be forgiven for being befuddled about wine protocol.
elaine, I like it when someone reminds me that I am younger than they I feel like a young whippersnapper!
John, cheers