Ambassade de Bourgogne: Burgundy's Embassy in Paris

Ambassade de Bourgogne is a much smaller shop than you might expect, but the wines inside are exceptional. It is known as the only shop outside Burgundy dedicated solely to Burgundy wines. The list runs from the bright, fresh acidity of a Petit Chablis to the delicate Musigny, and many of the wines can be tasted by the glass. The by-the-glass selection changes every ten days, which gives regulars a reason to keep coming back.

The name means "Burgundy Embassy." The founder fell in love with Burgundy wine as a student and started a tasting club (club de dégustation) with friends. Eventually he decided to open a shop, setting up his embassy in the heart of Saint-Germain, where French gastronomic history is still alive.

The snacks are Burgundian, too. Gougères, a regional specialty, look like cream puffs but are filled with cheese instead of cream, which makes them salty and perfect with wine. You can also order boeuf bourguignon, beef braised in Burgundy red wine, and jambon persillé. Our guide's go-to pairing rule is to match drinks and food from the same region, and here you can experience Burgundy in full without ever leaving Paris.

There's a story behind the place, too. When the wine shop and bar first opened, demand for Burgundy wine wasn't what it is today, so producers would travel from Burgundy all the way to this Paris shop to drum up business. Now that Burgundy is so popular, even wines the shop always stocked have become hard to get. But thanks to long-standing relationships with producers, it still manages to keep good Burgundy wines on hand, even if only in small quantities. That's why you can find bottles here that are hard to find elsewhere. The staff are passionate about wine and always have a good recommendation, so it's hard to be disappointed. It's a wine bar that people in the trade visit often.

If you want the best of Burgundy in Paris, this is the place to go. The route to the next stop isn't difficult either.