THE KNOWLEDGE
An enjoyable apéro with friends and neighbours is a sociable part of French life
such as a birthday or around Christmas or New Year. Flowers and chocolates are the safest choice but whatever you take, it must be something that is appropriately presented. A gift- wrapped flower arrangement from a florist is ok, a pot plant from the garden centre is not. Chocolates should be from a chocolatier, not a box from the supermarket and the general
rule is the smaller and more exquisite, the better. Think quality not quantity. It’s much easier if you know
Top tip
Never, ever, ever present your hosts with a bottle of rosé wine outside of the
months of July and August. And even then make sure it is decent quality rosé and
not flavoured with peach or pineapple or the like. The
French sneer at the British who arrive bearing a bottle of cheap rosé in the middle of January!
your hosts well and then taking things such as gourmet food, condiments, homemade produce and so on is absolutely fine. Close friends will just turn up with a pack of beer, a bottle of wine (yes, this is ok if you know your hosts well!) or for younger people who are likely to be on limited budgets, even crisps and a saucisson or two can be acceptable. Outside of the more formal apéro there are no hard and fast rules but do err on the side of caution.
HELP YOURSELF? The rules for apéro behaviour are, however, still fairly strict even among the younger generations. You should arrive on time and polite chit chat is the starting point of the evening. No one piles in and cracks open a beer without being encouraged to do so or offered a drink by their hosts. Usually drinks are not served
until everyone has arrived. There may well be a tray set up with a bottle and glasses ready but you will have to just stare longingly at it until your host
FIND OUT MORE Read our guides to living in France on
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everyone in the room and it is important to look people in the eye as you raise your glass. Not doing so is considered very bad form. In France and especially
Helping yourself can be a no-no
suggests that it is time to “boire un verre”. The same goes with snacks or food. They may be set out and waiting but do not help yourself until offered. Once the apéro is underway,
it is acceptable to help yourself to a second helping of peanuts, for example, but do not top up your own glass; again, mimic the behaviour of other guests if you are unsure. If no one else is attacking the peanuts, wait to be offered! When you are given a drink, wait until everyone else has been served before taking a sip as you will need to say “cheers” – “santé” – to
in the south, the summer is fêtes season with almost every village, however small, hosting one, which will last from three to five days. During the fêtes there will be numerous apéros organised by both local organisations, the village itself and private individuals. These will be much less formal than the traditional apéro hosted at home but the general rules still apply. Wait to be served, don’t drink too much too soon and don’t outstay your welcome even if the sun is shining and the wine is flowing! With all that being said,
apéros do vary enormously from the staid and quite boring soirée that you can’t wait to leave to something that starts as a quiet drink and turns into a long and riotous night. So travel expectantly and enjoy. Santé! ■
NEXT MONTH
Guide to: the déchèterie, your local rubbish dump
FRENCH PROPERTY NEWS: May/June 2024 87
© SHUTTERSTOCK
© SHUTTERSTOCK
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