I would like to bring back several bottles as gifts (and/or ship them home) and would like recommendations for a good mid-priced wine.

Are you serious?

There are 19 varieties of grapes grown in France, 9 major wine-producing regions, 4 categories of wine produced, and 9 billion bottles a year.

We don't even know if you're looking for red, white, or rosé!

Just do a dégustation or two while you're there and ask for help at a wine store.

Or give us a clue or two about what you're looking for, other than "mid-priced," which is anybodý's guess.

It might be what they want to push, or not the absolute best -- but I would definitely take the advice of a clerk in a big wine store on this one. He or she will also know what they have in stock and perhaps got a good purchase on (I personally would do that rather than take advice on an internet forum from someone I have no idea what their taste is or opinion about wine). Lots of people like wine I can't stand, for example.

Now if you are in Paris, you can get a midlevel wine at any Nicolas wine store (of which they are practically on every corner, like Starbucks in the US), however I'm not that impressed wither their stuff myself. It's perfectly okay, though. Try going to Lavinia on place Madeleine, I think it's one of the biggest wine shops in Paris. It's at 3 bd de la Madeleine.

Actually, you can get decent midpriced wine in almost any full-service supermarket. Just get a type that almost anyone will like and you can't go too wrong (I'd buy a not too dry red, perhaps). Try a Saumur Champigny from the Loire as I can't get that very well in the US where I live, it's not popular enough for them to promote or import much here. Any midlevel bordeaux would be good, also (and Bordeaux is very expensive in US).

Just don't buy some brand you find all over the US in supermarkets, people will want something different. (ie, if I never drink another bottle of Georges DuBoeuf, it will be fine with me).

When you seek the clerk's advice, make sure to let him/her know whether you want something immediately drinkable or something your friends could age for a while.
FWIW, our favorite midpriced whites are Les Romains from the Vacheron winery in Sancerre and Les Murgers des Dents du Chien (a white burgundy from the area near Montrachet). Both are not *easily* found outside France (the Dents du Chien in particular) and are good, mid-priced whites, somewhere about 20 to 30 euro per bottle.

Christina & BT, thank you for the helpful suggestions. I had fully intended on checking with a clerk, but wanted some recommendations of favorites before I left. I really appreciate the recommendations as I wasn't looking for anything specific and more of "this is my favorite".

St Cirq, I really didn't think the question was that difficult... Christina and BT didn't have an issue with providing recommendations. Merci et au de sous de ton cul avec le bouteille.

Dear mm,

What is "mid-priced"?

You can buy decent wine in France for 3 - 700E.

Do not even think about shipping the wine home. It is way too expensive and, depending on what state you live in, if you are in the US, you may or may not be allowed to do this. If you decide to carry the bottles back, why not buy an inexpensive Champagne? You can probably get a good non-vintage for 20E. You need to tell us your budget first. And depending on where you will be in France; you might want to bring a local wine from the region you are in if you are not in Paris.

I am thinking in the 20-40euro range. I don't have a preference as to white or red (my friends enjoy both!), I am just looking for favorites.

Dear mma128, I understood everything but au de sous is that sit on? Tsk tsk!

At a wine course many moons ago, our teacher said that the French keep their best wines in France. True? I don't know any details, but do ask which ones will "travel" well.

I'd be in love with anyone who brought me any of the white burgundies from Macon ...

Muscadet is also a favorite of mine.

Chablis from Chablis is a favorite..

French Rose's are not white zinfindels...how about some provencal roses? Mas De La Dame, for example...

Boy do I love my French wines??!!!!

We like Muscadets too and have been drinking them as our everyday whites. There was a nice article about muscadet in the New York Times (if you're interested, read it now before it sinks into the not for free archive):
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...52C0A9609C8B63

You can't ship wines back to the U.S. Period. Only licensed importers can do so.