What "should" one take to an apéro in France?

[Weta]

Dumb question I know, but I never quite seem to have figured it out!! Wine, flowers, something else, nothing?? I took wine last time but the people looked a bit surprised

More to the point, what can I get away with taking in our current circumstances?! We're moving to Luxembourg on Tuesday so are frantically busy and half our stuff is packed away, have been invited to 2 apéros and have already done our shopping... Having hosted several goodbye dos already, I definitely can't face anything that resembles cooking at the moment.

One is with our childminder, and I have bought her a goodbye present so thought maybe I could just take that? Other is with old neighbours (in their 50s).

flowers in those circs or a small pot plant - I always used to take a bottle of champagne (Paris/pre-children....) and that always went down well, but maybe it was just my friends (mostly mixtures of various cultures with a bit of French thrown in!)

I always take a designated driver

we've been invited to a few and all the locals say we should not bring anything. when we've been to a dinner party we took wild flowers from our garden or bundles of herbs which went down far better than us taking wine, champas or bought gifts. then again we are a bit more rural so it may differ in larger towns/cities

That's interesting Tigerbump - I definitely got the impression last time that they weren't expecting us to bring anything, hence being surprised (but pleased) about the wine. Although we had some neighbours round for afternoon tea and they brought flowers, so who knows?!

Othersideofthechannel - both within walking distance so no driver needed maybe a designated pushchair pusher?!

Hah my friend who is a mumsnetter so may see this, got given a goldfish bowl with two fish once. It's the gift that keeps on giving, but always makes me smile when I pop round for a coffee and see the two fish swimming round their bowl.

Flowers or chocolates are always safe

If it is just an apéro rather than a meal, I agree that people probably don't expect you to take anything. But will be pleased if you do.

Flowers or chocolates probably safest.

Wine may have been seen as you bringing wine to drink, but they had invited you for drinks so were expecting to provide them, IYSWIM. Bringing wine to go with a meal is different maybe?

LOL for the goldfish bowl!!! Think my childminder has enough to manage without goldfish as well

AuldAlliance - I think you're probably right. Didn't matter in that particular case as they're good friends and we just said this isn't for now but have it another time...

Have bought a small but lovely bouquet from the florist, chosen by DS1. It's funny, I used to think it was a total waste of money buying flowers, but today I actually really enjoyed it Must be getting more French after all!