Welcome! You've arrived at the home of independent artisan wine merchants in Pau, located on Place de la Libération, just opposite the Palais de Justice, in the 64 (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), nestled between Jurançon to the south, Madiran to the north, and Irouléguy to the west. The shop is just a stone’s throw from Les Halles, right in the heart of the city centre.
The Cave was founded in 2010 by Thomas BUISSON, former wine merchant in Paris’s 18th and 5th arrondissements, winemaker with various estates in Languedoc, Burgundy and the South-West, and former sommelier in Antibes and Cannes. Always open to discovery, Thomas seeks out wines far from standardised labels, perhaps from lesser-known producers, but always real, vibrant wines full of character.
Louise, originally from the UK and half Dutch, has been a constant support to Thomas from the beginning, particularly thanks to her background in business and marketing. A passionate cook, she and Thomas make a formidable team, creating unique and memorable tasting experiences.
Since 2024, Romain Geronimi has been advising customers and sharing his passion, initially as part of a work-study programme under Franck Thomas’s "Sommelier Caviste" training. He graduated top of his class, and top of all classes in France, and has now joined the team full-time.
It was during the Covid year that we also stepped into the modern world with our “remote” wine shop. Sharing our passion in person remains essential to us, but we’ve adapted well and now ship all over the world. By email, phone or live chat, we’re here to help and advise as best we can.
We also invite you to explore our blog, where we share tasting notes, stories, and all kinds of experiences!
Once a month, we send out our newsletter, the “Palais Curieux”, to share our latest favourites and our thirst for discovery. Make sure to subscribe!
Not all our products are available online, just like in the shop, there are hidden treasures to uncover...
So don’t hesitate to get in touch directly too ;)
We look forward to welcoming you; online or at the Cave.
Thomas, Louise & Romain