France 44 Wines & Spirits

What a hidden GEM! I have driven by this place so many times just assuming it was a liquor store, which it is of course, but there's also a fantastic deli inside! I tried the Cuban sandwich and it is really well done. All of the ingredients are high quality and well distributed throughout the sandwich ( essential for a good Cuban! ). I can't wait to find an excuse to try my next sandwich!!

A group of friends went with me… Customer 1: The sandwich was incredible!!!! The vibes of this small cheese shop were impeccable!!! Customer 2: Yes I second that. I got a baguette and it was great! There is seating but not much. Customer 3: The employees are very kind and quick with orders! They were also very polite when they needed to go through the seating area to get their things! ❤️

Very friendly and helpful staff, and fantastic sandwiches and cheeses. I went in for lunch and ordered the surprise sandwich and noted a few things that I do not like or cannot eat. They created a really tasty custom sandwich with ham, goat cheese, arugula, cornichons, and an onion jam underneath - it was absolutely delicious. I can’t wait to go back and see what they come up with next time I order a surprise sandwich!

Ordered a Rueben for lunch. They used smoked brisket and was one of the best Rueben’s I’ve had. Apologies for the late photo! Highly recommend.

We just took a focaccia making class here and it was phenomenal! Couldn’t ask for a better instructor or setup. The coffee and refreshments were a very thoughtful touch. Overall a fantastic value and a great way to learn something new. The deli and wine shop need no mention, very fair prices and an amazing selection. Staff are so friendly and welcoming every time we’re there. Already can’t wait to return!

Widest selection of drinks/liquors in the area. Fantastic tasting nights + pop-ups, especially in a relatively bike-friendly area. Meat and Cheese shop is icing on the cake, thorough selection of cheeses with plenty of other raw + cooked meats/dishes to buy. Sandwiches aren’t half bad either, though I’d love to see more selection available. Either way, love this place!

Terrific wine liqueur, cheese, and bistro all under one roof. Great selection of wines, beers, and spirits. The cheese shop also has a great selection of cheeses from around the world. The bistro serves tasty offerings worth every penny. Super helpful staff

We used France 44 for appetizers at our Wedding at the Bakken Museum on 10/01/22, and we had the most positive experience with them! Communication was clear, on time, and the food looked beautiful! On top of this, everything was delicious! We have always loved France 44 for their sandwich and liquor shop, but this experience solidified why we chose them in the first place!

I had a dignity be damned moment and did a happy dance in the middle of their NA section, which is vast and wonderful and ever-expanding. Super selection of delicious treats for every palate and price point. The service was excellent, too--I couldn't find what I had come in looking for, and I quickly found help and was directed to the correct spot (right behind me... good job, self!). I really love what they've done with this place--it's always bright and inviting, and they have a gorgeous selection of glassware that would be perfect for gifting.

An absolute foodie destination. There are two sides to the shop: a large liquor store with an emphasis on hard liquor, and the area I made purchases in, the cheese shop. Cheese is my thing, and I was delighted to find they had a vast assortment with many items that are difficult to find in the US. Many cheeses had informational cards. The monger was quite helpful and patient as I made my selections, custom cutting many of the blocks for me. The shop also had a large range of accompaniments--jams, honey, crackers, pickles, butter--and a deli menu complete with a small case of delectable-looking baked goods.

I think I've driven past this spot an infinite number of times thinking that this was simply a wine/liquor store...I couldn't have been more wrong! What a fun place to grab a bite, a glass, and enjoy some time to catch up with friends. Plenty of parking in the dedicated parking lot! As you walk in, there's a cafe/butcher shop to the left and a liquor store/wine shop to the right! The butcher shop/cafe is stocked with TONS of fun snack, packaged goods, international cheeses, and cuts of meat! I could have spent an hour exploring all they had to offer. We got glasses of wine, a meat and cheese board, and a sandwich to go! They have lovely happy hour deals, which we took advantage of! Everything was yummy and the staff were very educational on what we were served! I'm definitely adding this spot to my rotating happy hour list!

A nice curated selection of wines and spirits. This was a perfect stop for us before the holiday celebrations began. While they might not have just the exact thing you are looking for there is always very helpful service that will point you in the right direction. We found a lovely Pinot noir to try and a small half bottle of sparkling cuvée and even a little Lambrusco bottle to try as well. It's hard to walk in here and not find something to try.

France 44 has the best sandwiches + soup in their cheese shop, the France 44 club is my go-to! I've also attended a pizza making class and it was such a great event. All the staff are really friendly & great to work with! There's a fairly large parking lot in back which is also helpful.

Great liquor store with plenty of items to choose from They have some rare finds here and also attached is a cheese shop with a decent menu where u can order a wine on tap and have some cheese and eat in the back cafe or on the patio Service has always been good , my go to along with Surdyks!

Great liquor store with an even better deli and cheese shop attached. They've got an event program and space that takes full advantage of the super knowledgeable cheese and meat mongers down stairs so look at their classes and events, for sure. Dogs are allowed in the cafe patio but not inside. The liquor store allows them in, though. They have weekly, rotating specials for pie, sandwiches, salad, or whatever else is in season so check the café often. I usually get the "vegetarian surprise" which is exactly what it sounds like. They make you an ad-hoc sandwich with whatever's fresh on hand and it'll change every time but is always delicious. You can request them to not use certain things in case you don't like them or are allergic. This time I asked for something "BLT adjacent" and got an avocado LT with the best mushroom "bacon" ever. Perfectly crispy and smokey. Nice chewy ciabatta from Rose Street, quality cheese, and nice aioli rounded it out. Took it to the lake ~15 minute walk away and had a relaxing picnic. I'll be back as always and highly recommend for meals, provisions, and liquor. It's pretty pricey but the quality is worth it for most things.

Not my fav liq store They have nice global choices Needs more rotation They have a make your own six pack. It is pretty small and not in coolers. Barely managed to eke out a unique six tonight. At least expand it or make it cold! What they lack in the make your own sixer department, they make up for in the international offerings of beer that they do have in the coolers. Way too heavy on the Belgians, though. I think most of us geeky beer drinkers would like more diversity. However, I do usually manage to find something from Italy or Switzerland that I haven't had before. The France is for the street name and not the beer selection. I don't know anything about the distribution laws, but it seems like they have a nice little foothold in some places that nobody else in MN does. If they put the make your own in the coolers with some international flavor (more than Heineken and Guinness, etc - can you get anything from Portugal?) this could be a five!

Their membership loyalty reward points system(s) can't be trusted for accuracy and reliability. The issues never, really, get solved. They tell you they will or it has. But it doesn't. After 19 years, it's time to move on.

Good wine selection. Good wine samples. The food offerings are often unique. Friendly staff.

Had heard a lot about France 44 but never visited. Took advantage of being in the area today and checked it out. I was surprised at how big it was and the extensive selection of various liquors and local beers. My partner focused in on the whiskey selection and had a hard time choosing just one. I checked out the local craft drinks. I overheard some of the staff making recommendation sun but he the wine and liquor areas and they seemed extremely knowledgeable and more than happy to help. The liquor store also has a "club 44" that you can join for $44 for life. We aren't close enough to make sure we'd get the benefits but if you live nearby I would definitely consider. After we made our purchases we went next door to the chews ship, which is more of a gourmet grocer. It has way more than cheese. It also has a dining area in the back where you can enjoy a meal or snack and a glass of wine. The location is good, plenty of parking and a beautiful space. If we're in the area again, you can bet we will be back!

Lovely space and a great selection of beer and wine. They also have a variety of THC drinks that I haven't found in other wine and spirit stores, so it's great that they have such a variety in one place. The staff was excellent and helpful, and the team has 'staff' picks all over the store that give a little more description on the pick and what it pairs well with. There's a fab cheese shop next door that has a variety of local and imported cheeses. The cheese monger was so informative and answered all the questions I had just based on the wine or beer I wanted to pair the cheese with. They do have a subscription/rewards program to sign up for and I would highly suggest it to anyone who does love a good charc and spirits night!

Great place with lots of eclectic wines from around the world. The customer service is amazing and the guy was very helpful trying to locate our favorite beer. The store is very clean, lots of choices and it's easy to spend a lot of time walking around and looking at all of their selections.

What a great whiskey selection! They have multiple store barrel selections. I picked up a bottle of the F44 old forester single barrel. It was hard to chose between that and multiple other great bottles. I'll definitely return in the future if I am in the area and drive out of my way if I need to pick up a bottle for a special occasion.

Family owned, third generation, meats, cheeses, specialty items, eat in deli food and wine! What else do you need. Helpful servers dish up great salads, soups and homemade sandwiches which you can eat in their sunny dining room and then fill your bags with dinner items to take home. One and done. Grab your favorite wine to warm up on these cold winter days!

Very fun liquor store with an attached food store. They have super selection of wines and spirits from all over the world. In addition to that, they have a massive walk in beer cooler. The attached food store has meats, cheeses, deli and grocery items. They have super helpful employees who know the products. They will suggest how to prepare and cook the products they sell. If you want to be notified when they get something in, they will call you. France 44 has a loyalty program where you earn points on purchases. Sign up for their email and you will be notified of sales, specials and tastings.

Great service. Wonderful sandwich and salad. So tasty! The bread is soft and delicious, the ingredients all seem very high quality.

This place is fantastic ! The food from the cheese and meat shop is fantastic. The service and ambiance is incredible and they have amazing classes upstairs in the event space. I will gladly come back in the future !

Look, it's pricey. You're right on the border with Edina. The target market is very much the fancy white people, and it's assumed you can afford the few extra bucks. But, if you live in the neighborhood, you'll also benefit from regular free tastings to introduce you to a lot of new stuff, and a very knowledgeable staff. I'm mostly a spirits guy, but I've enjoyed getting to know their spirits head Tom, and he does know his booze. They're also excellent about special ordering anything you want. (pro tip: if Total Wine has something, their distributor has to sell it to all other Minnesota stores at the same price, so ask and you may receive.) Also has attached meat and cheese shop that is similarly frou frou, but less with the tasting. Me, I'm here for the drinks.

Great shop. Didn't get to try the food side but smelled incredible. Great selection!

The Cheese Shop has responded really well to the COVID-19 stay-at-home and social distance orders of the state, and more impressive, they're hitting it out of the park in the food department. The carry-out lunch and dinner bundles, wow. Every one I've tried has been phenomenal in quality, quantity, and price. The bundles range 30-35 dollars and fully feeds 4 adults. The Korean BBQ salad, Pulled Pork Sandwich, and Chicken with Risotto bundles are so very good. The once a week $30 bake sale bundle is fun and super tasty, and a good way to try a lot of different items. Their focaccia bread is to die for! In response to social distance orders, the bundles are easily ordered online at least a day before pick-up. There are pick-up parking spaces where you can call and have the food brought out to your car. If you do want to go in, staff wear face coverings and limit the number of guests in the store itself. Staff also goes through the orders in the morning, and they quickly message you in the morning if there are any questions with the order. I'm very impressed with how quickly France 44 Cheese Shop has changed their set-up while maintaining such high-quality products, and I highly recommend people (safely) try it out!

5/5 if you are looking for a artisinal grocery experience. If you are searching for a specific cheese for a recipe, high quality products or a new wine to try this place has it all. Came in looking for a Comte cheese and was expertly advised by the resident cheesemonger on the type of cheese best for our recipe, right down to the aging that melts best. Be prepared for a higher price tag but I believe the quality speaks for itself!

Grabbed lunch at the cheese shop, one of the best sandwiches I've had in a while.

France 44 has a very nice selection of wine, beer and spirits. We went for some whiskey and their selection is pretty good, they have some harder to find whiskeys like Rowens Creek and Noah's Mill. They also have some harder to find ingredients for mixing cocktails like Demerara syrups. There are three tasting bars, whether it be wine, beer or spirits. France 44 offers wine clubs and memberships, however they charge for this membership whereas other liquor stores do not for the same benefits. There is a deli with an array of meat and cheese selections, also offering beers on tap. This would be a nice stop for grabbing some wine and food for a picnic or a quick lunch.

Had a great time taking a visit to both the liquor store and the adjacent cheese shop. The liquor store was hosting a little wine and cocktail tasting which was super fun and the staff were extremely friendly and knowledgeable about their products. They also allowed dogs so Kobi was able to come in and meet other puppies/people. The cheese shop next door is very quaint. It's obvious that they take great care in selecting their cheese and meats. I did order their Spicymonger sandwich as well and I was so pleased by the fresh flavors and savory spice level. Kadel did an amazing job of preparing it :) I also enjoyed the perfect happy hour rose that was crisp and refreshing for a good price. Can't wait to come back and sample some more of their cheese!

Bought a quart of potato salad without looking at the price. Looked at the label when I got home and felt robbed! $25 for potato salad!? You must be kidding. It was good potato salad, but $25? C'mon! Not cool.

I love France44. Their cheesemongers are amazing. Recently I was putting together a cheese plate to surprise my husband with for movie night and they let me try everything before buying but also recommended a great selection for the evening that made our date night in even more memorable. And if you don't think cheese can be memorable, you need to stop here! I recently visited for lunch as well. It gets very busy and I would recommend scoping out the seating area first to ensure there is space and even leaving one of your party there to make sure it's available when you get back from ordering. They have great soups and sandwiches but I would skip or and get the meat/cheese board. It's delicious and you never know what's going to come on it!

Zounds! Never been and wow. Walk in beer cooler with fantastic selection. Rows of great bourbons. Friendly and welcoming staff. Even friendly fellow customers. Easy and plentiful parking. Prices are a bit higher than I've seen elsewhere but on par with many other places I've been. I FOR SURE will be back here. Likely many times. Many many times. Fun to find a new place that rocks so hard.

Thanksgiving meal--very disappointed with the thanksgiving all day bundle. My only guess is they sold too many of these. The turkey was supposedly brined, but it was flavorless. We received a generous pan of stuffing, but it was basically big chunks of bread with some chicken sausage sprinkled in. Cheese plate for 4 had 4 small slices of cheese and a little bit of meat. Lots of pickles. The 2 pies were tasteless (pumpkin and pecan). Potatoes/gravy were good! We ate those and the cheese/meat and tossed the rest. We wanted to support our local businesses--but we will pick another place for Christmas.

It is a slightly inconvenient for me to get to as I have solid liquor stores that are closer but I still make it to France 44 when I can. They did a solid for me. I was searching for a particular scotch. As I was scanning their shelves and not seeing my prey a man, who turned out to be an owner approached me and asked if I was finding what I was looking for. I told him that they have a great selection but unfortunately no. He guided me to the counter and asked for my contact information and and what I was looking for. A couple of days later I received a call from the France 44 purchasing manager. He was able to track down a case of the scotch. Awesome! Hard to get that kind of customer service these days. That's why I keep driving out of my way =)

This neighborhood gem is the place to go for whatever libations you are looking for. Unique, local, international, quality, rare, you name it. You can find a Barolo from a prior century (in the cellar) for a splurge/experience, or you can go with one of the staff's picks which usually highlight a value or two. Ginormous beer selection. Knowledgeable staff that has a thing or two to say about the typical ratings (wine spectator, wine enthusiast for example) and why or why they do not hold water. There is a rewards club. If you are looking to expand your horizons, and share a loathing for Yellow Crap, this could be your store. The only hitch is their prices will be a little above the mega stores....but there is a movement to buy local, isn't there? PS - be sure to check out the cheese/charcuterie/gourmet food shop.

Just was in there, trying to find something. Were a ton of people working and talking about their planned trips etc., but no one offered to help. Found what I needed eventually, but chose to leave rather than spend a dime there.

This is a great local and family owned liquor store. I love their assortment (check out their unique bitters) and amazingly helpful and friendly service. Beyond the beverages, the cheese shop is one of the best in town. I love how they do a block of some creamy cheese like Burrata with fruit and honey. Very tasty.

Nice selection of wine and spirits. Food place is wonderful. Love their chicken pot pie, and almost every other dish they provide. Excellent cheese counter and they excel at bringing in yummy hard to find oils, chocolates, sauces etc. We visit and purchase at least once a week.

This is my go-too store for alcohol. They have an excellent selection of local, national, and international drinks. I especially like the employee recommendations, which are listed on the shelves. Pro tip: The store is dog friendly, so bring your pooch if she is in the shopping mood. Margot loves it here.

A friend recently introduced me to this liquor store. I am not even sure I should label it as that. Maybe I'll call it "a place that caterers to everyone's drinking and eating palates mixed with class" kind of establishment! I was impressed! Other than knowing we wanted to purchase some alcohol, we didn't know what exactly we wanted. So, we were able to taste some liquor, (whiskey if you were wondering), before purchasing. I am so glad this was an option, because we then chose our favorite. Also, it happened to be Saturday and there was a free wine tasting going on in the back. "Why, I don't mind if I do!" There was a new distributer showcasing at least 7 wines both red and whites for all to try. It was quite an experience, of course we added some wine to our order. Smart thinking on their part! The staff was so knowledgeable and helpful. You can buy mixes of all sorts, wines, liquor, beer, and even fancy cheeses from the deli attached. I had to try and then buy the parmesan chipotle chevre! I couldn't bring myself to buy into being a member just yet, since it's not all that close to home. It is something I plan to ask Santa for this year though!

This is a great neighborhood liquor store with one of the best selections out of any liquor store in the area. The staff is very friendly and knows their stuff. Plus, their rewards program is by far the best I've seen at a liquor store, and only costs $44 for a lifetime membership. Worth it! The adjoining cheese shop is, quite literally, my happy place. Their cheese-loving employees are super knowledgeable and always handing out free samples, and I love their labeling that notes the type of milk the cheese is made of and some other background info. Giving 4/5 stars because their prices are a little higher than your average liquor store. But IMO, totally worth paying more for a great shopping experience.

Make sure you ask about their club. I didn't on my first visit (the cashier didn't mention it), and would have saved a ton. France 44 is the only liquor store that I've found that carries the 18 yr old aged Nicaraguan rum that I adore, as well as a number of other fun craft ciders and beers that are hard to find (even in Chicago!), and I LOVE that you can try samples of a number of the different liquors that they have in stock (it's only select items, you do need an ID, and there's a limit of how many you can try). They do ship stuff - super convenient, and the staff is both knowledgeable and friendly. Their food is also delicious, I've bought some of the best cheeses and cheese dips there, and every time I'm in the grocery store I am always looking for things that are similar - but I'm always out of luck. I find that France 44 is totally worth the 1.5 hr drive into the cities, especially if I run to MoA as well.

Gorgeous cheese trays with lavish presentations that wow a crowd. Absolutely stunning displays of cheese and several accompaniments on every cheese tray they carefully, and creatively put together. I've ordered cheese platters from 4 other places in the Twin Cities, and these are the most impressive. The actual quality of the cheese is delicious, too, and the items they are paired with go together perfectly. The customer service is excellent also. The woman who put together our order was graceful and extremely helpful. Bonus: they deliver. How convenient! Love this. We also ordered their brown butter rice krispy treats and salted caramel brownie bites (I think they were brownies) and both were really well liked. The brown butter rice krispy treats slightly more because truly, who doesn't love a rice krispy bar? I would definitely order from here again.

France 44 has a great selection on Mezcal. They have many unique varieties at various price points and several are available to taste before purchasing. If you are on the hunt for Mezcal I highly recommend France 44.

This place is truly one of the best places on earth. At 5:55 pm I placed an order for a "T-Chut" sandwich (phenomenal, definitely recommend) from my couch, and it was ready by 6:03. I live a couple minutes away and was back home eating my sandwich by 6:06pm. The sandwich is absolutely delicious, and they are VERY generous with the toppings. The worker was so friendly as well. Everyone needs to go here.

When I come up here to go out with my friend I always stop here and get some kind of unusual wine or liquor. The guys here are so knowledgeable and friendly. I walked out today with a really cool bottle of red that I'm giving to my boss when I get back to Rochester. Every time I'm here they have something new and different to try. Update: My Boss loved the wine, I hope to get a raise :oP but I may need to buy more bottles!

I was at France 44 this evening. I had in mind this orange Pinot Grigio that I had months ago at a restaurant in Savannah, Georgia that I couldn't stop thinking about. I explained it to the man working, and he knew the wine AND was familiar with the restaurant. He showed us the wine and explained how the wine is very popular in the south. Sure enough, I looked it up and it was the exact same wine I had in Savannah. I was so pleased and surprised by the service and knowledgeable staff at France 44th!

This review is for the cheese and butcher shop not the liquor store although the liquor store is excellent. They have a very nice collection of upscale cheese. Really there is hardly anything better than a good cheese. I lived in Toulouse for a while and although I don't know much about cheese, I developed a taste for good cheese so I appreciate a store that sells products more sophisticated than what you find at your local supermarket. I bought a very good Stilton and an unpasteurized French cows milk cheese that they were sampling. My wife and I had these with grapes and a glass of wine - wow we need to do that more often. Nothing beats fresh fruit and good cheese. I also bought a couple of lamb shanks at the butcher shop. I love braised lamb shanks but they are hard to find. The butcher shop also had duck confit as well as duck breast also hard to find. They also have a nice assortment of dried sausage and Iberian ham. The cheese and butcher shop probably would not be where you would shop for your regular Saturday run to the supermarket but are great for more upscale items.

Here are the things I love about France 44: * We are preferred customers and it's worth it. The knowledgeable staff recognizes us on-sight, remembers our taste preferences instantaneously, and recommends new items for us to try. * Complimentary wine tasting "tour" of typically 8 different wines, Fridays and Saturdays. Liquor tasting bar to sample a large variety of flavors most any time. Vendor tastings often. (Beer tasting counter too.) * Cheese/Deli connected next door. Samples offered by knowledgeable cheese staff. Bring the wine tasting tour list to the cheese counter before you do the wine tasting for advice on good pairing. Buy the cheese and take it next door to enjoy with the complimentary wine tasting. * Real glasses for wine/liquor sampling to get a better sense of true flavors. No plastic cups.

Thank you France 44, Adam and Sam for such a wonderful wine tasting experience, sampling and learning so much about South African wines. Yum! The tasting was a very fun way to learn a lot. Adam, you did such a great job of telling your story and bringing us into your trip with the photos and your favorites. Well done.

Found a very difficult to locate product wit these folks. Shipping cost the same as the actual product, but the product was my objective. I would only change 1 thing; request shipping with UPS. Fed Ex required I be home all day or drive 2.5 hours to their closest store. UPS is much easier to locate and be accommodated. FARMERS ORGANIC BOTANICAL GIN is worth the effort and FRANCE 44 carries this wonderful product THANX

How have I not been here until now?! So many things to comment on, but most of all....Samples. Ok, ok, and other stuff. Great selection of wine and spirits, with a solid beer selection. They have a big walk in cooler for beer too, which was great. Average prices. Nothing amazing, but good sales. Staff were very nice and helpful and the cheese shop (That has beer and wine on TAP!!) was just magical. Limited seating, but stop in for a cheese tray and a tasty drink. They had a BOGO happy hour while we were there from 4-6! I'll be back, if not just to wander the aisles to find a new gem and eat cheese.

Doing business here is a great experience! On the Liquor Store side, the choices are plentiful and the staff knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. On the Cheese Shop side, it is a delightful fromagerie/charcuterie/prêt-à-porter which brought back fond memories of Paris. One can get sandwiches (made to order), and a variety of other 'take-put' foods, in addition to the fabulous cheese selection, various meats, crackers, etc. The staff is great, lots of fun. I highly recommend this establishment!!!