Paris Wine Bars : Nicolas

The Nicolas Wine Bar (Paris Bercy) Everyone knows Nicolas stores in France. They are about everywhere and sell wine to the french people since 1822 , when they opened the first store in Paris .They were the first to sell wine by the bottle and not by larger wine measures as it was usual back then . They also delivered at home , and offered a wide range of french wines . They also introduced the ritual "Beaujolais Nouveau" in Paris.
This is now a group of about 400 wine stores, of which about 280 in the Paris area. They are usually located in downtowns , and for a reasonable price you can find wines of reasonable quality from the different french wine regions , plus a few foreign ones . Some Nicolas stores with a high street address have a larger selection of high end wines . This is the wine store around the corner where you go when you look for a bottle and advice . They had the good idea to introduce their "petites récoltes" series . These are bottles from unknown producers , simple traditional wines , priced very affordably . These "vins de Pays" , or country wines can thanks to Nicolas , meet a wider audience.
Nicolas diversifies its activity with wine bar extensions as well as restaurants along some of its stores.
This is the case at the Nicolas store located in the new Bercy neighbourhood in the lower east side of Paris . Exact location is Chai 24 , Cour St Emilion (ph. 01 42 68 00 16) . Metro : Cour St Emilion (on the sleek and automated new subway line 14). Cour St Emilion is a pedestrian alley with on both sides restaurants and trendy cafés . It leads to the multiplex movie theater "Cité Ciné Bercy" with its 18 screens . The area was in the past a town in itself where wine , delivered by train and trucks was stored, bottled and shipped for the Paris area consumption .

The place is open seven days a week for the wine shop and the wine bar , and the restaurant serves meals each day noon-3 pm and 6 pm-11 pm .
The wine by the glass at the wine bar or to drink with the food is chosen among a list of about 15 different wines that changes every 2/3 weeks .
They also have this idea to put tags on the glasses , wich makes sure there is no mix-up in the busy hours , and keep you focused on what you drink . Only they should put a little more information on them , like the complete address of the vineyard , name of producers and ° in alcohol .
Prices are quite cheap and on the selection we had , most prices were between 1,5 and 3 Euro a glass . You can also choose a bottle in the wine store and drink it for just 3 Euro more (cork fee) at the bar or sitting at a table [when this story was posted there was no cork fee at all, bu Nicolas added a small cork fee over the years]. This is a bargain as a bottle of wine in a restaurant costs usually several times more than the store price . This is what these Japanese visitors on the right did , the waitress just served them wine as they waited for their dishes ...
For the food the menu lists a dozen dishes , priced 7 to 10 Euro , mostly .
Staff is friendly . Restaurant area is indoor and also on the terrace on the back of the building.

B. chose a spanish white : Marquès de Caceres Vendimia Seleccionada 2003 . I chose another foreign : a south african Pinotage "Fleur du Cap" 2001 .
We were said about ten Nicolas stores in the Paris area have added a wine bar , and a handful of them had also a restaurant . The other one I heard about is the flagship store located 31 Bd de la Madeleine in the 8 th arrondissement (ph. 01 42 68 00 16)

Comments

[Carlos Alberto Jayme]

I don't Paris yet but when I got a chance to know I will go to this bar.

[Steve]

Ou se trouve les addresses pour tous les Nicolas magasins du vin a Paris?

[Jim Kargeannes]

We spent an enjoyable evening here in June (2006). The "petites récoltes" and several other obscure wines offered by the store were quite a treat. We tasted several rosés during our visit. They were the pefect match for the 32 degree heat.
The area around the shop is made up of 18th century warehouses that have been converted to shops and restaurants. It is quite enjoyable to stroll around the area, although a bit touristy (ourselves included). The Metro stop is just a few steps away and there is a small park one block over. The wine shop closes before the restaurant, which may have worked out well - no impulse buying after trying several wines.

[Valeria]

Nicolas, my favorite place in Paris!!!