What to drink while you’re watching the Tour de France

Up late (or very early) to watch the Tour de France? Toast the race with these eight famous French drinks.

Guillaume Brahimi on the road in France for Plat du Tour. Source: Plat du Tour / Blink TV

— Discover more great French food and drink traditions in Plat Du Tour with Guillaume Brahimi. See each episode during the live broadcast of the Tour de France on SBS and SBS On Demand. Plat du Tour is also streaming at SBS On Demand. —

It’s no secret – the French like to celebrate, love their food and appreciate the art of drinking.

As you travel across France’s diverse provinces, cities and towns, it’s common to see cafes and restaurants filled with diners, sipping alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages – with or without food at any time of day.

French hotellier Jean-Louis Bottigliero says this is because life in France revolves around social gatherings, regular celebrations, sports, family and friends. And drinking – whether it’s wine, an apéritif or hot drink – is considered an experience that enhances the social element of gathering and eating.

Drinking isn't typically done in isolation in France – it usually involves food or social gatherings. Source: AAP/Jean-Michel Labat

“This is part of the culture for us,” says Bottigliero. “You have some countries – not mentioning any names – who drink and drink. With us, we would rather not drink too much but instead drink something good. We don’t drink a lot of beer. We like to drink wine and cassis. But again, people don’t drink just to drink. We drink something to pair with the food and come together.”

So the sporting celebration that is Tour de France seems like a reasonable excuse to raise a glass or two of your favourite French drop. But which beverages should you drink while watching the broadcast on SBS?

Here’s our must-drink guide.

Kir

No matter where you go in France, you’ll always be met with one familiar apéritif on a drinks menu: Kir, a cocktail made by mixing crème de cassis (a thick blackcurrant liqueur) and white wine.

The national drink was born in the Burgundy capital of Dijon, and made famous by Dijon mayor and priest, Félix Kir, who championed and promoted the drink after World War Two.

The pimped variety is called Kir Royale, which uses Champagne or sparkling wine instead of bubble-free white wine.

Calvados

Calvados is an apple brandy, made from distilled apple cider, originating from the Normandy region.

It can be enjoyed as an apéritif or digestif and can be served straight over ice. The alcohol can also be poured over ice-cream, used in other desserts or added to cocktails for that extra special touch.

Vin (French for wine)

French wine needs little introduction, as it’s famed throughout the world for its high standards and quality control via the national appellation system (appellation d'origine contrôlée).

If you want to slowly sip a glass of authentic and French wine, open a bottle from one of the country’s two most prestigious wine regions: Bordeaux and Burgundy.

This is part of the culture for us. You have some countries – not mentioning any names – who drink and drink. With us, we would rather not drink too much but instead drink something good.

Wine producer Olivier Leflaive is partial to a good drop of Burgundy chardonnay or pinot noir, produced locally. However, his advice when choosing a good wine is to ignore the rules and what experts say is right and wrong. Instead, listen to your own tastebuds and choose your own vin adventure.

“When you describe the wine, it is very personal,” Leflaive tells SBS. “So perhaps you will find that my description is not a good one. But it doesn’t matter – it’s your imagination that is important [when drinking wine], not mine.”

Citron pressé  

If cyclists battling it out for a win in the midst of France’s summer conditions makes you break into a sweat, then there’s only one traditional solution to consider: drink a citron pressé.

The upscale lemonade is typically presented in a tall glass filled with ice and fresh lemon juice, a jug of water and sugar. The rest is up to you – mix the drink to your own tastes, add more sugar for sweeter lemonade and less for a bitter taste.

Pastis

This aniseed-flavoured apéritif is very common in homes, bars and restaurants around France. First commercialised by Paul Ricard in the 1930s, it was considered to be a safe ‘replacement’ for absinthe, which was banned at the time. The traditional drink, a Mediterranean cousin of other aniseed drinks like the Greek ouzo or Italia Sambuca, can be consumed with water or ice.

Cointreau

This famous French brand of triple sec, hailing from the Saint-Barthelemy-d’Anjou commune in the west of the country, can be enjoyed as an apéritif or digestif. It’s got an orange flavour – but don’t confuse it with the ever-popular French Grand Marnier, which is brandy-based orange liqueur.

You can drink Cointreau straight, with a splash of water or on ice. It also makes for a great cocktail base.

A hot drink: café au lait or tisane

If you’re waking up extra early or staying up late to watch the Tour on SBS, you may need some liquid assistance to keep your eyes open.

Use a French press to make an authentic café au lait – an espresso with hot milk added in equal parts. You can also opt for a une noisette – an espresso with a hint of cream or milk scattered on top.

Tisanes (herbal teas) are also popular at night-time to help you to digest your meal or served cold in the middle of the day, as a refreshing pick-me-up.

Sparkling eau (water)

Water is a natural winner for a healthy pick-me-up during long stints of Tour de France viewing. To make your water choice more French, opt for a sparkling bottled variety. Perrier is a top pick for this occasion: the carbonated beverage gets its name from Dr Louis Perrier, who bought the Les Bouillens spring and spa in southern France in 1898 – but it was British businessman St John Harmsworth who turned it into a commercial success (after Perrier struggled to sell water in a region that vastly preferred to drink wine instead).