Where to Buy
The Drinking French Shopping Guide
The best places to buy French wine and spirits — from specialist importers to the finest wine merchants.
Wine.com
The world's largest online wine retailer
Enormous selection of French wines at all price points, with reliable shipping across the US. Excellent for everyday drinking and special occasions alike.
Best for
Everyday French wine at all price points
Ships to
United States
K&L Wine Merchants
San Francisco's finest wine merchant since 1976
One of America's great wine merchants, with an exceptional selection of Burgundy, Bordeaux, and Rhône. Their buyers travel to France regularly and their allocations of top producers are unmatched.
Best for
Serious Burgundy and Bordeaux collectors
Ships to
United States
Berry Bros. & Rudd
Britain's oldest wine merchant, est. 1698
The oldest wine merchant in Britain, with an extraordinary cellar and unrivalled expertise in fine French wine. Their en primeur offerings and fine wine storage services are second to none.
Best for
Investment-grade Bordeaux and Burgundy
Ships to
UK & International
Millesima
Fine wine direct from Bordeaux négociants
A Bordeaux-based merchant with direct access to château stocks, offering competitive prices on classified growths and a superb range of older vintages. Ships worldwide.
Best for
Bordeaux classified growths and back vintages
Ships to
Worldwide
Cognac Expert
The world's leading Cognac specialist
The definitive destination for Cognac and Armagnac, with an extraordinary range of vintage and rare expressions from small producers and the great houses alike.
Best for
Cognac and Armagnac enthusiasts
Ships to
Worldwide
Buy Direct from Domaines
The purist's approach to Burgundy
Many Burgundy domaines sell direct to private customers on their mailing lists. Getting on the list of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Leroy, or Rousseau requires patience — but the rewards are extraordinary.
Best for
Dedicated Burgundy collectors
Ships to
France (collect in person or arrange shipping)
EXPERT ADVICE
Buying French Wine: Tips from Our Editors
Buy by the case
Most merchants offer a discount of 10–15% on case purchases. For wines you love, buying a case also gives you the pleasure of tracking how they evolve over time.
Consider en primeur
Buying Bordeaux and Burgundy en primeur — before the wine is bottled — can offer significant savings on the finest wines. The risk is that you're buying on the basis of barrel samples.
Check provenance carefully
For expensive bottles, always ask about provenance and storage history. Wine stored in poor conditions — too warm, too much light — can be irreparably damaged.
Explore lesser-known appellations
While Pétrus and Romanée-Conti grab the headlines, France's lesser-known appellations — Crozes-Hermitage, Mâcon, Muscadet — offer extraordinary value.