Sète’s #1 natural wine spot! Hidden in the jovial “Rue des prisons,” the Cave Au Vin Vivant keeps Sète’s hip crowd happy thanks to 850 carefully selected labels. From behind her Syrah-red bar, the doctor of natural wines Corine Escaffit pops open mischievous bottles, sourced from both here (Domaine Ledogar, Domaine Fond Cyprès, La Sorga…) and elsewhere: a Mâcon red from Julien Guillot (€23 a bottle), a Roussillon Macabeu from the Domaine Ledogar (€15), La Chaussée Rouge, a Loire wine from La Grange aux Belles (€23 for a magnum)… All of which can be taken to go or drunk in house for a €5 corkage fee. Our ultimate tip? Buy seafood from the neighboring vendor and devour it on the wine shop’s tiny terrace! And if you still want more, the owner organizes tastings with winemakers one Saturday per month, with cheese and charcuterie platters. // A.A.
The bullet-proof bottle: A 2001 Jura Chardonnay from Pierre Overnoy (€125).
