Old Town's Quietly Serious French Wine Room
Old Town · Alexandria · French Brasserie · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 27, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Josephine reads like someone actually loves French wine — not just knows how to spell it. It's tight, intentional, and skews hard toward the regions that matter: Burgundy, Loire, Alsace, Champagne. This isn't a list built to impress; it's built to drink.
Don't come here looking for a world tour — this is a proudly French cellar with zero apologies. Burgundy anchors the list with producers like Domaine de la Denante (Bourgogne Rouge at $17) and Domaine du Colombier (Chablis at $19), both of which punch above their price class. The Loire gets proper representation via Augustini's Sancerre at $18, and Alsace shows up with Schoenheitz — a producer most DC-area restaurants wouldn't know how to spell, let alone stock. The gaps are real: no Spain, no Italy, minimal New World — but that's the whole point.
Eighteen-plus options by the glass at $8–$19 is genuinely impressive for a neighborhood bistro, and the range holds up across regions and styles. A Crémant d'Alsace at $9 by the glass is the kind of move that earns loyalty — that's Champagne-adjacent quality at a price that doesn't require a moment of hesitation. The ceiling at $19 (hello, Chablis) keeps things accessible without dumbing down the selection.
Crémant d'Alsace, Schoenheitz — $9
Nine dollars for a Crémant from a serious Alsatian producer is a genuine steal. This drinks like a $16 sparkling pour at any other restaurant in Alexandria — order it as your first glass and let it rip.
Bourgogne Rouge, Domaine de la Denante
Most people at a French bistro order the Sancerre or go straight for Champagne. The Denante Bourgogne Rouge at $17 is the move for anyone who actually wants to drink Burgundy without the Burgundy price tag — a regional appellation wine from a producer that earns its place on a serious list.
Blanc de Blanc Champagne, Kirkpatrick
At $16 a glass, this is the list's least compelling value proposition. The Crémant d'Alsace next to it is $7 cheaper and closes the gap faster than you'd think. Unless you specifically need the Champagne label, the math doesn't add up.
Chablis, Domaine du Colombier + Oysters or seafood starter
Colombier's Chablis is all chalk and citrus — it was practically designed to be poured next to cold shellfish. At a French brasserie with this much Loire and Burgundy energy, a briny seafood opener and this glass is the reason you're here.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Josephine is doing something rare in Northern Virginia: a short, serious, exclusively French wine list with fair prices and a sommelier who clearly gave a damn putting it together. If you eat French food and want to drink French wine without getting gouged, this is your room.
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