Ashjen

Hello All, I am a wine lover especially Bordeaux style wines. I will be in in France two weeks, 5 days in Paris, 5 days in Normandy and 5 days in Alsace. As you can see not hitting any of the big red wine areas. I will visit wineries in the Alsace but we are travelling in Sept when I understand msny close for the harvest unlike Canada when we can tour right through the harvest. I would love to taste some great reds from smaller vineyards with a hope of bringing home half a dozen bottles to put down in my wine celler for few years. Is there any central places where you can taste wines from various places in locations like Paris, Normandy or Alsace. A

avalon

In Paris there is a wine tasting every Sat. at the Dernere Goute at 6 rue Bourbon Le Chateau , off the rue de Buci.

avalon

Here's a link for you

http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/968

http://www.foodtourist.com/FTGuide/Content/I809.htm

StCirq

Well, other than doing generic wine tastings in big cities, I think you've answered your own question already. You're not going to the big red wine areas, or even the little red wine areas, so no, you won't be encountering any great reds from smaller vineyards "on the spot," so to say. You can find them in wine stores, though - but you can do that most anywhere in the world.

Travelnut

I think sometimes it's best to 'go with the flow' and enjoy the products an area is best known for, rather than trying to force your favorites to fit the location. I prefer red wine, too, but I'm learning to be able to at least drink a beer so I can appreciate sampling beer when we go to Brussels or Holland again.

So if I were visiting Alsace and Normandy, then I would want to try some whites and some cidre & Calvados.

quokka

Hop across the border to Germany from Alsace and check out some of Baden's famous reds. Durbach, for example, Glottertal, or - probably best - the Kaiserstuhl (Ihringen, Oberbergen etc.) - although their style is a bit different from Bordeaux.

avalon

Be sure and taste the various ciders in Normandy and the Calvados!