WHAT IS THE FRENCH ART OF LIVING?

Hard to translate and almost as hard to sum up, the French art of living –l'art de vivre à la française – evokes a certain way of appreciating things: gastronomy, of course, but also architecture, craftsmanship, fashion, the art of the table and heritage.

More than a style, it reflects particular attention to quality, to time and to detail, as well as to the pleasure of getting together and sharing. It is a philosophy expressed differently from one region, craft or occasion to another, yet one that plays a full part in France's image around the world.

A certain idea of taste

In France, taste is not limited to what is on the plate. It can reveal itself in the choice of a material, the precision of a gesture, the decoration of a table or the balance of a building.

From artistic crafts to gastronomy, from fashion to winemaking, this pursuit of beauty and of things well made runs through many French crafts.

The art of the table is a particularly vivid illustration: tableware, glasses, materials and presentation all help to create a harmony in which every detail matters.

Taking the time to do things well

The French art of living also has a special relationship with time.

Some recipes require patience. Some materials are shaped slowly. Some wines need several months or several years before revealing their character.

This relationship with time accompanies many French crafts, where technical mastery goes hand in hand with patience. It also allows traditions to endure while being continually reinterpreted.

Gastronomy, an essential expression of the French art of living

It is impossible to talk about the French art of living without talking about gastronomy.

Croissants, bread, cheeses, pastries, wines and regional specialities bear witness to the diversity of France's terroirs and savoir-faire.

But French gastronomy is not just a collection of products or recipes. It is also about how a meal is composed: choosing the ingredients, imagining combinations, setting the table and pairing food with wine.

Since 2010, the gastronomic meal of the French has been inscribed on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Beyond the dishes themselves, this recognition highlights a social and cultural practice that brings together the meal, the products, the pairings, the gestures and the rituals of the table.

Regions that shape this art of living

There is no single French art of living.

Provence, Burgundy, Alsace, Brittany and the Loire Valley each have their own landscapes, specialities, traditions and savoir-faire.

This diversity is precisely one of the riches of French culture: behind a product or a speciality there is often a territory, with its climate, its raw materials and its own techniques.

In the Loire, vineyards, gastronomy, architectural heritage and landscapes thus form a singular identity, deeply rooted in the history of the region.

Elegance that never tries too hard

The French art of living is also associated with a certain idea of elegance: one that has more to do with getting things just right than with ostentation.

A beautiful material, a carefully chosen object, a simply laid table or a perfectly mastered craft can be enough.

It is a quest for refinement in simplicity, where quality and attention to detail take precedence over display.

Conviviality and sharing at the heart of the art of living

The French art of living is also told around the table.

Meals, the apéritif and special occasions are all rituals that accompany French social and cultural life. They create moments for meeting, conversation and passing things on, where the pleasure of entertaining combines with that of sharing what has been chosen and prepared with care.

This conviviality can take very different forms: a lunch that lingers on, a table set for a special occasion, an impromptu apéritif or a meal planned to celebrate an event.

Beyond the occasion itself, what is expressed is a certain attentiveness to others: choosing good products, preparing a table, passing on a recipe or introducing someone to a craft.

Sharing, entertaining, introducing and celebrating are thus an integral part of this French culture of the table.

Gratien Meyer, savoir-faire born in the Loire

It is within this world that the story of Gratien Meyer unfolds.

In Saumur, the House has been crafting its Fines Bulles de Loire since 1864, deep in cellars carved into tuffeau limestone. Loire terroir, the traditional method, mastery of time and a pursuit of elegance shape the style of its cuvées.

This French savoir-faire naturally finds its place in an art of living made of taste, refinement and discovery.

Because the French art of living is also nourished by what we choose to share with others, Gratien Meyer carries on one of the expressions of the Loire's winemaking heritage: Fines Bulles crafted with exacting standards, each cuvée telling, in its own way, the story of its origins and its savoir-faire.

Discover more: Our history · Our signature · The faces of the House