Wine Bar
Unclaimed profileLa Fête
Birmingham, AL · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
La Fête pairs a French-leaning wine list with a cocktail menu that runs from the house-limoncello La Fête 75 to a rye-heavy Manhattan Noir. The wine program spans sparkling, white, skin contact, red, and dessert pours, with glasses from $12 to $18. Beer, cider, and non-alcoholic options round out a program that suits both dinner and brunch.
- What should I order?
- Start with the La Fête 75, a French classic built on house limoncello, or the Coupe de Coeur with gin, St. Germain, lemon, and local blackberries. For a deeper pour, the 2024 Lucien Reymond 'Silex' Sancerre offers Loire Valley precision by the glass.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Drinkers who want a French-focused wine list without a stuffy cellar will find approachable pours from Savoie, Burgundy, and Bordeaux. Cocktail fans will appreciate the mix of classics and originals, and the brunch spritz lineup suits a midday crowd.
- When should I go?
- Brunch is when the Blood Orange Paloma earns its praise, and the Hugo and Aperol spritzes fit the daytime mood. Dinner brings the fuller wine list and the Manhattan Noir. Le Supper Club, a monthly French-inspired dinner with wine pairings, is a special-occasion option.
- What should I expect to spend?
- House cocktails run $14–$20 at dinner and $12–$16 at brunch. Wine glasses are $12–$18, with bottles $45–$72. Beer, cider, and non-alcoholic drinks stay under $12.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- La Fête operates as a French bistro and wine bar, with a wine list that favors France across sparkling, white, skin contact, red, and dessert categories. A monthly Le Supper Club dinner pairs multiple courses with wine, and the cocktail menu leans French with house limoncello and Cognac.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
The cocktail list spans French-inspired classics and originals, from the house-limoncello La Fête 75 to the rye-and-Averna Manhattan Noir. Brunch adds spritzes and a Blood Orange Paloma that has drawn praise. Prices run $14–$20 at dinner, $12–$16 at brunch.
Menu strengths
- — Diverse menu with classic and original creations across dinner and brunch.
- — French-leaning ingredients like house limoncello, Cognac, and St.
Standout selections
- — La Fête 75 — house limoncello, $16; Coupe de Coeur — gin, St. Germain, lemon, local blackberries, $16
- — Manhattan Noir — premium rye, Amaro Averna, golden leaf cherries, $20
Pricing: House cocktails $14–$20; brunch cocktails $12–$16.
Wine
A French-focused wine list organized by sparkling, white, skin contact/rosé & orange, red, and dessert. Includes a Sancerre, a Burgundy Pinot Noir, and a Sauternes. Le Supper Club offers a multi-course dinner with wine pairings.
Menu strengths
- — Robust French focus with regional variety from Savoie, Loire, Burgundy, and Bordeaux.
- — Wine pairings featured in the monthly Le Supper Club events.
- — Brunch menu includes a fromage pairing with JJ Prum Spatlese Riesling.
Standout selections
- — Cremant De Savoie NV Lambert de Seyssel 'Petit Royal' — $16 glass / $64 bottle
- — Sauvignon Blanc 2024 Lucien Reymond 'Silex' Sancerre — $18 glass / $72 bottle
- — Pinot Noir 2024 Jean-Claude Thevenet 'Clos Les Bussieres' Rouge — $18 glass / $72 bottle
Pricing: Glasses $12–$18; bottles $45–$72.
Beer
A short, curated beer and cider list appears on both dinner and brunch menus, with a French lager, a hazy IPA, and pear ciders. Prices stay modest at $7–$12.
Menu strengths
- — Small but curated selection spanning lager, blonde ale, hazy IPA, and cider.
- — French and local options appear on both dinner and brunch menus.
Standout selections
- — Kronenburg 1664 Blanc — $7; Moody Tongue Orange Blossom Blonde — $8
Pricing: $7–$12.
Nonalcoholic
Non-alcoholic options include a Phony Negroni, a cranberry-lime-ginger Cafe Rouge, a non-alcoholic beer, and kombucha. The same list appears on dinner and brunch menus, priced $7–$10.
Menu strengths
- — Offers several non-alcoholic choices including a non-alcoholic cocktail.
- — Same non-alcoholic list on both dinner and brunch menus.
Standout selections
- — Phony Negroni — $10; Cafe Rouge — cranberry, lime, ginger — $8
Pricing: $7–$10.
How it sits with the food
The wine list is built for bistro food, with a fromage pairing on brunch featuring JJ Prum Spatlese Riesling. The 2024 Sancerre would suit lighter seafood, while the Burgundy Pinot Noir and Sauternes offer red and dessert options.
Inebrious does not score kitchens, food or the restaurant overall. We review the beverage program only.
Community reviews
Anyone with a free Inebrious account can rate the drinks here. Community ratings are kept entirely separate from the Inebrious editorial score above.
No community reviews yet. Be the first to write one.