Ok, so we have been invited for a drink with our french neighbours tonight., early evening....whats the right thing to take/drink?

we did this about a year ago and they asked what we wanted to drink, i asked for wine and they looked a little confused (obviously a meal time drink) and dusted down some expensive fabulous red! i did feel a little bit of a moron but also don't really drink alot or spirits....so not sure what the form is? should we take a bottle of wine? if not what...

thanks in advance from a bit of a wally

They're expecting you to have an aperitif - pineau, cognac and tonic etc. A small bunch of flowers for the lady of the house wouldn't go amiss or an (edible) offering from your garden.

Have a good time

You don't need to take anything, that's only if you're invited for dinner. Just return the invite in a few weeks' time.

Aperitifs in my French partner's household are usually pastis (with water or grenadine), cognac/whiskey and schweppes, Armagnac, vermouth or something which I don't know what it's called but is a chestnut flavoured apero they get from a local distillerie.

If you're a wine drinker, ask for a kir! Crème de cassis and dry white wine which is one of the most popular aperitifs and they're bound to have this on offer so it's a safe bet.

They will have brought the wine from the cellar to have with the meal and, yes, it's very unusual for the French to have red wine as an aperitif but don't feel a wally - they will have found it quirky and just a 'British' thing. :)

My partner doesn't drink at all so whenever we go for aperos he asks for fizzy water or orange juice or a cola - all totally acceptable too!

Have a lovely evening and try not to get too drunk!!

Yes what ever you do, Dont stagger away singing " her we go, here we go, here we go, we are the Lads etc !!!

In my experience it has only ever been a social evening with a max of 2 drinks, not a session!!!

thanks all,

flowers bought and no session on the cards as we will be taking a 2 1/2 yr old with verbal diorhea so will have worn them out after a couple of hours!!! can't promise said child won't arrive and depart singing 'here we go '....................

As dargart says, it will be a couple of drinks and if you're invited at, say, 6, offer to leave at around 7.30 max as they'll want to eat.

Have a great time and my earlier reference about not getting drunk was an off the cuff remark and I didn't think for one second you would!