Le Petit Comptoir on the boulevard du Marechal Joffre is a long-established Narbonne wine restaurant, with a deep Aude wine list and a serious by-the-glass programme.
The list: Aude-focused list of 220 bottles with 22 by-the-glass; Corbieres, Fitou, La Clape and Minervois by the glass nightly
Tip: Order the Corbieres-Boutenac vertical flight; the list typically holds five vintages of the cru, which is rare outside the appellation itself.
Le Saxo Bar on rue Cabirol in Narbonne is the city's vinyl-and-jazz listening room, with a small but serious Aude wine list. The format is intimate (around 20 seats) and the music programme rotates between jazz vinyl evenings and live combo sets weeknights.
The list: Jazz-and-vinyl bar with 70 bottles and 10 by-the-glass; rotating Aude natural-wine selection
Tip: Live jazz sets are Friday and Saturday evenings from 21:30. Quiet weeknights are better for wine-focused drinking; the by-the-glass flight rotates each week.
Hotel La Residence is one of Narbonne's longer-running independent hotels, with a wood-panelled lounge bar pouring an Aude-focused wine list.
The list: Hotel lounge bar with 180 bottles and 12 by-the-glass; Aude focus (Corbieres, Fitou, La Clape, Minervois)
Tip: The Aude appellation-tour flight (Corbieres, Fitou, La Clape, Minervois by the glass) is the textbook intro to Aude wines for a first-time visitor. Walk-ins welcome but reservations advised on weekends.
La Cave du Vigneron on rue Droite in Narbonne carries one of the broadest fortified-wine selections in the Languedoc, including the Muscat de Saint-Jean-de-Minervois sweet whites, the Maury and Rivesaltes reds from neighbouring Roussillon, and the rare aged Banyuls Hors d'Age. Tasting flights are available with advance reservation.
The list: Caviste-and-tasting-bar with deep Muscat de Saint-Jean-de-Minervois, Maury, Banyuls and Rivesaltes VDN selection; tasting flights available
Tip: Ask for the Vin Doux Naturel comparison flight: Muscat de Saint-Jean-de-Minervois, Maury Grenat, Rivesaltes Ambre and Banyuls Hors d'Age side by side give the most efficient southern French VDN lesson.
Discover the secrets behind the wine making of Château Capion wines with a guided tour. Taste all wines from the vineyard.
Discover the wines of Languedoc with a tasting and a fun wine quiz 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Enjoy seeing Montpellier with a local guide. See the city center, and try local wines and specialties, including fresh seafood and regional cheeses, fougasse, pastries...