This Parisian wine shop hides one of the finest wine collections in the world…
Wine lovers’ best-kept secret is just a stone’s throw from the Champs-Élysées?
Since 1987, Les Caves de Taillevent has been perpetuating a tradition of excellence in Paris, combining rarity, accessibility and passion transmitted with art. The natural heirs to the legendary restaurant of the same name, they appeal to neophytes and collectors alike.
A wine merchant born of a great house
It all began in 1946 with Le Taillevent, a gourmet restaurant founded by André Vrinat, a historic figure in French sommellerie. The restaurant soon became a landmark for its outstanding wine list. In 1987, his son Jean-Claude Vrinat decided to open Les Caves de Taillevent on rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. A chic boutique, demanding but never snobbish, designed to pass on knowledge and passion.
Since then, the Gardinier brothers, current owners of the Taillevent group, have developed the concept internationally: Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama, Beirut… And more recently, a second Parisian address was opened in 2022, on rue de la Pompe, a stone’s throw from Place Victor Hugo. Each location has its own unique atmosphere, but all share the same DNA: excellence, discovery and accessibility.
2,000 references, from confidential nuggets to absolute myths
Les Caves de Taillevent offers over 2,000 rigorously selected wines. From the great classics to confidential labels, from essential French terroirs to foreign vins d’auteur, from biodynamic crus to niche champagnes, each bottle has its own legitimacy.
The Taillevent Collection, made up of forty signature cuvées, is the most personal expression of this. These wines are the fruit of long-standing relationships with emblematic winegrowers, who offer their most faithful interpretation of the terroir.
The democratization of fine wine… without compromise
While it’s possible to come across Romanée-Conti or bottles sold only on confidential allocation, luxury is never out of the question. From as little as €10, you can find a singular bottle, a rare natural wine or a fine discovery from the Loire or Jura regions. A clear philosophy: to make great wine a shared experience, not a reserved privilege.
The teams are also careful to select wines that are organic, natural or without added sulfites, with perfect traceability. All the estates are chosen for their history, their sincerity and their know-how. What about conservation? The wines are aged in temperature- and humidity-controlled cellars near Paris.
Consulting as an art of living
In these cellars, the sommelier replaces the salesman. Here, we don’t “sell” wine, we tell stories. Whether you’re a shy amateur or a confirmed oenophile, each customer receives personalized advice. We talk about grape varieties, textures, dishes, desires, sometimes memories… For Les Caves de Taillevent, wine is first and foremost a moment of transmission.
A model that inspires the world
The concept has been successfully exported, notably to Japan, with Esprit de Taillevent, a hybrid format between wine cellar, wine bar and tasting room, which appeals to a new generation of wine lovers. It’s an inspiring model, at once statutory and accessible, which could well set an example elsewhere.
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