A few liters of freshness in this cold, hard world… In the Hérault department, which is less well-known for its crisp wines than its full-bodied ones, the Savoyard wine merchant Éva Pimont (who used to work at the legendary Cave des Arceaux) audaciously sells bottles of natural wine at her shop. Once you’ve got your feet firmly planted on the checkerboard tile floors, the hunt for beautiful finds can begin: Ô Narcisse, a Savoie Mondeuse from Camille and Mathieu Apffel (€19), Sous les Rochers de la Vigne, a Chardonnay produced by Clément Bärtschi (€21.50), Un Matin Face au Lac, a Chasselas from Les Vignes de Paradis (€34), Mérune, a Chardonnay-Altesse combo produced by Les Cortis (€15.50)… And to avoid upsetting the locals, she’s also got a few southern wines for sale, including a Minervois Viti Vini Bibi produced by Benjamin Taillandier (€14.50). As a bonus, you can even leave with a few cheeses in tow, which Éva herself sources in the Chartreuse Valley. // Gwen Jacquère
The bullet-proof bottle: Douce Noire, an Isère red from Jérémy Bricka (€19).
