Fresh Figs

Red · Light · Dry

Burgundy's most temperamental grape, but the rewards are real — translucent ruby with a perfumed lift of red cherry, forest floor, and clove. Silken tannins and bright acid make it the most versatile red on the table; serve cool, around 58°F.

Works with Fresh Figs · Grilled Figs Withaca Fresh Mozzarella And Balsamic Vinegar

Red · Light · Dry

Gamay-based reds from southern Burgundy — light, fruity, food-friendly. The serious Cru bottlings (Morgon, Fleurie, Moulin-à-Vent) drink like Pinot Noir at half the price.

Red · Full · Dry

The benchmark for full-bodied red — structured, age-worthy, unapologetic. Black currant, graphite, and tobacco lead into firm tannins that demand protein on the plate. Decant young bottles; cellar the serious ones.

Sparkling · Light · Dry

Méthode champenoise from the most chalk-rich corner of France — fine bubbles, brioche, lemon zest, and a finish that goes on for half a minute. The wine for anything fried, salty, or special.

White · Medium · Dry

The most-planted white grape and the most chameleon-like. Crisp and steely from Chablis; rich, oaky, and tropical from California. Read the label, then match the style to the dish.

A Southwest French appellation neighboring Bordeaux — similar grape varieties, lighter style, modest prices.

Provence rosé at its most classic — pale, dry, Mediterranean, with strawberry, citrus, and a saline finish. The wine of Provençal lunches.

Languedoc's most distinctive red — schist-soil Syrah and Grenache, lean and mineral compared to the broader Languedoc. The thinking person's southern French red.

Red · Light · Off-dry

Italy's pizza wine — slightly sparkling, slightly off-dry, low alcohol, and built to cut through sausage and cheese. The good Emilia-Romagna versions are dry and seriously good.

Roussillon's quieter sweet Grenache fortified — like Banyuls but often a touch lighter. The bistro pairing for chocolate desserts.

Languedoc red blend country — Grenache, Syrah, Carignan from a windswept plateau. Bold, herbaceous, generous; built for roasted meat and aged hard cheese.

Southwest France's affordable Sauternes — Semillon and Sauvignon hit by noble rot, just over the river from Bordeaux. Honey, apricot, candied citrus at half the price.