Top 10 wine bars in Bordeaux

Held from April 14 to 17, the famous Primeurs week is a much-anticipated event for wine professionals and tasters alike, when bets are placed on the quality of the latest vintage. In this case, the 2024 vintage. For the general public, there's no need to be frustrated at not being able to attend: the capital of Gironde is overflowing with good places to dip your lips in fine nectars from Bordeaux and beyond.

The CIVB wine bar

On the first floor of the Maison du Vin de Bordeaux, home to the Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins de Bordeaux, epicurean connoisseurs are welcomed to a not-to-be-missed spot in the Gironde capital. The CIVB wine bar is just as much a place for those on a budget as it is for those wishing to hone their palates to the finest nectars.from Château Laroze grand cru classé in Saint-Emilion to Château d'Arche, grand cru classé de 1855 in Sauternes. Count on no more than 12 euros a glass, to be enjoyed with well-made small plates of trout rillettes, foie gras or charcuterie with the indispensable graton de Bordeaux.

Why go there? For its chic setting and the affordability of its grands crus.

The four corners of wine

It's in the heart of old Bordeaux that you'll find the opportunity to forge your palate with the finest Bordeaux labels, as well as grands crus from the four corners of the globe. The name says it all. In this bar, you can choose from a vast selection of 1,800 wines, available by the glass. These range from a small sip (3 cl) to the usual 12-cl glass. There's something for every budget, from 15 euros to 1,500 euros! The tasting can be accompanied by well-crafted small plates, such as this pita bread topped with shredded duck and Aquitaine tomme, on a bed of pickled onions.

Why go there? For the richness of its world wines.

Univerre

It's not often you get the chance to taste a champagne from Grand Master Jacques Selosse. The same could of course be said of Grange des Pères in Languedoc, Domaine Huet in Vouvray or Yquem in Sauternes. These are just some of the labels that are sure to whet the thirst at the Univerre bar. Behind this pun-like name lies a menu of references that would make any Bacchus lover dream. This is precisely the challenge facing this Bordeaux address, designed by Fabrice Moisan, who has succeeded in serving some 1,300 references, preciously accumulated over time.

Why go there? We go there for its highly prestigious crus, some of which are difficult to find on their own.

Latitude 20

The bar at the Cité des Vins should not be overlooked in the list of must-visit addresses, on the pretext that it's too classic. Latitude 20 is run by the Terres de Natures group, under the direction of Matthieu Gufflet. When you step into this modern, cosy room, there's something vibrant about it, especially if you've just completed a tour of the Cité des Vins' historical circuit. Everything makes sense, as if it were self-evident. The wine bar, which is also a brasserie, offers a sensory voyage through the vineyards of Bordeaux, to the sumptuous nectars of Château Pontet Canet. The à la carte menu doesn't shy away from introducing customers to foreign wines, such as the must-try Hungarian tokaji from Château Dereszla.

Why go there? We go there to immerse ourselves in the work of the great Bordeaux châteaux as well as that of the great foreign houses, in a relaxed atmosphere.

Wine More Time

Updating a wine list is like adapting culinary proposals to seasonal produce. That's what this Bordeaux wine bar, opened in 2010, is all about, where you can enjoy privileged access to the nuggets of the owner-growers. With 450 wines on offer, some twenty new wines by the glass are added each week. This dynamic approach means you'll never get bored, as you discover more and more indigenous grape varieties, and even more confidential productions. The focus is made all the more interesting by the fact that a large proportion of the labels are organic wines.

Why go? We go for the easy access to the work of owner-growers.

Coumé Vaï

Long gone are the days when Coumé Vaï was a... hair salon! Rest assured, the smells of amonia and hairspray have been replaced by the savory aromas of a long-aged Comté cheese or a wild boar sausage. While this unusual address is neither a wine bar, nor a cheese shop, nor a delicatessen, it does everything at once. And that's where its originality lies, all the more so as the wines are well chosen, always with the promise of making the vintages accessible. Corentin Bellecule, the young owner, is determined to break the mould of wine bars by bringing a relaxed spirit to what could be described as a delicatessen. And why "coumé vaï"? Because it means "how are you? "in Provençal dialect, since the founder hails from the Drôme region.

Why go there? For the relaxed atmosphere and the fine selection of cheeses to match the Bordeaux wines.

Le Sobre Chartrons

In the historic epicenter of the Bordeaux wine trade, a wine merchant and a wine merchant have joined forces to open a bar with a deliberately mischievous name. Alcohol is, of course, to be consumed in moderation, but that doesn't stop the address from promising a gustatory voyage thanks to a wine-by-the-glass service, featuring 24 to 32 different labels. You pay according to quantity. As the place has been granted a catering license, customers must accompany their tasting with à la carte plates, such as a croque with truffled ham, the chef's mimosa eggs or spreadable delicacies like this mushroom pesto, unless they are tempted by a plate of Wagyu beef in the charcuterie section.

Why go there? We go there to decide on the right label before buying the bottle.

Au Bon Jaja

Just as there are "cuisines d'auteur", we could classify Arnaud Charrier's address in the category of "wine bars d'auteur", or at least singular. You've been warned: there's a bias in favor of natural or biodynamic wine production. And it's a delight. In a decor reminiscent of the 50s, tasting is relaxed, even uninhibited, and there's no shortage of things to like, given the 250 references on display. All at reasonable prices, between 25 and 35 euros. Quench your thirst, and cultivate good taste too, with snacked bonito topped with sauce vierge, or boudin from the Galabart house, served with a piquillo and chilli coulis.

Why go there? We go for the super-casual atmosphere (and also for the toilets, which the owner boasts have been classified as a Unesco World Heritage site).

Couleurs du vin

This wine bar has more than one original feature up its sleeve. Not only does the selection focus on natural productions, but above all the address assumes its support for women winemakers by highlighting pins that have been specifically produced by women. Another way of telling the story of Bordeaux, its region and its way of making wine. In addition, the "repaire bachique" doesn't stop at making your taste buds travel at aperitif time. Themed tasting sessions are also organized to explore the differences between grape varieties and terroirs, accompanied by a selection of cheeses. Prices start at 25 euros.

Why go? To explore the diversity of wines produced by women in the wine world who count.

Les Trois Pinardiers

Of course, there's the subscription formula of monthly deliveries of new bachique nuggets that has made Les Trois Pinardiers a household name throughout France. But the brand is also the name of a wine bar in Bordeaux that doubles as a cellar, as if to prolong the pleasure at home. It all began here in the capital of Gironde in 2015, when three friends decided to dust off the world of wine shops to make it less intimidating and more accessible, via express deliveries of good labels in particular. They've come a long way since then, as Les Trois Pinardiers has also opened in Nantes and Angers.

Why do you go there? We go there to avoid the frustration of tasting a good wine only in a bar, but also to make sure we can prolong the pleasure at home.