OUR STORY
Why French and what Paradox?
It all started with a segment, called 'The French Paradox', on ‘60 Minutes’ in the early 90’s, suggesting that, despite the relatively high fat content diet of the French population, the incidents of heart disease was much lower than that of Americans. The answer was, it seemed...consumption of red wine!
Ok, so that’s never been conclusively proven. But here at the French Paradox, our intent, since we love wine, is to offer great wines from around the world through a ‘French lens’, illustrating and discussing how the French invented the modern wine world and still dominate it. We also hope to sell some wine between conversations.
And yes, paradoxically, we have wines from California...and Oregon, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Austria, Germany, New Zealand…even Virginia. And local and international beers, spirits, ciders and cheese.
So, stop by. Let's talk about wine. French or otherwise.
WHAT WE OFFER
WINE
SPIRITS
BEER
CHEESE & CURED MEATS
OPINIONS
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Recent Opinions and Events
My Favorite Wine, June 20. 2018
2015 Domaine de la Pepiere Clisson Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Clisson, France Regular Price $29.99 Sale Price $23.99 We bought this wine ‘blind’ (without tasting) a few weeks back and poured it our ‘Wild and Wonderful Whites’ tasting shortly thereafter. We knew the producer and his reputation, the importer (and their reputation) and the AOC[…]
A Brief History of Whiskey (with recipe)
A Brief History of Whiskey (with recipe) Making whiskey is not all that complicated, however it’s development was centuries behind beer and wine. No doubt about it whiskey was late to the party. Humans figured out the process of distillation around the 10th century, but it wasn’t until the 13th century that wine was distilled[…]
Tasting notes: June 16, 2018, Whiskey
Suntory Whiskey Toki 86 proof Regular price: $39.99 Sale Price: $36.99 “Toki’ means time in Japanese. And Suntory’s Toki Whisky is a tribute to that. Its a blend of whiskies of varying ages from Suntory’s three main distilleries – Hakushu, Yamazaki and Chita. The pairing of Hakushu American white oak cask malt whisky with Chita[…]
Insulting wines
It seems that in the modern hierarchy of wines, the three most damaging characteristics that can be assigned to a wine are: thin, sweet and white. Frankly, this is patently ridiculous, especially since many (if not most) of the ‘prized’ wines (red and thick) are also sweet (how do you think that they got thick?).[…]
My Favorite Wine, June 13, 2018
2015 Chateau La Vieille Cure Fronsac, France Regular Price $34.99 Sale Price $27.99 So here’s the thing…by and large, we stock wines that we like. And, again, by and large, that translates into classic, elegantly styled, subdued wines that pair well with foods. I like to call these ‘table’ wines. (Yes, I know that the[…]
Tasting notes: Noble grapes wine tasting, June 9, 2018
Simonnet-Febvre Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Rosé NV Regular price: $22.99 Sale Price: $17.99 Fresh and lively, this lovely sparkling wine of 100% Pinot Noir is as charming as it is delicious. Bright and affable red berry flavors followed by crisp and clean acidity makes this a perfect aperitif. Antoniolo ‘Bricco Lorella’ Vino Rosato, Gattinara 2016[…]
What if the ‘right’ wine is beer?
Sometimes, people hunting for the exact, precise, without-a-doubt right wine to pair with a dish are really annoying. Because sometimes the ‘right’ wine is a beer. Regardless of what the ‘experts’ might think. (One thing to always remember about experts…they are usually not. Expert, that is.) The absolutely correct wine to serve with steamed Maryland[…]
My Favorite Wine: June 6, 2018
Billecart-Salmon Brut Reserve Champagne, France Regular Price $63.99 Sale Price $49.99 Despite the fact that nearly all wine consumers know of it and that millions of dollars are spent annually promoting it, Champagne remains unappreciated. Many still only think of Champagne as a celebratory beverage, many more still think that any wine with bubbles is[…]
Rainy Day Wines
It’s supposed to be spring, but it won’t stop raining. Depressing, I know. These wines will help… Mont Marcal Cava Rosado Brut, NV…$17.99 It’s spring in a glass…bright, fresh, berry scented, and exuberant. 2016 Domaine A Deux Sauvignon, Touraine…$14.99 Fresh citrus (lime & orange) flavors, crisp and dry, it’s refreshing and lip-smacking 2016 Terenzi Morellino[…]
Tasting notes: Wild and Wonderful whites, June 2, 2018
Domaine Delalex ‘Marin’, Savoie 2014 Regular Price $22.99 Sale price $17.99 The grape here is Chasselas, which has a uninspiring reputation throughout France. But in the right hands, and with unhurried fermentation and an additional year in bottle, this wine shows very attractive peach and floral aromas, a rich and full mouthfeel and crisp and[…]
Meet the team
Our store is a family business run by three generations of native Marylanders with decades of experience in the the wine industry.
Matt Wood
PETER WOOD
