Quick 5 Minute Guide to French Wine
This is intended as a rough guide for people new to wine who wish to enjoy our wines to the fullest!
French Wine Regions Briefly
Champagne
The name itself is used to denote sparkling wines created through particular production methods. This northern area has many small growers who produce great wine. The three grapes used are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and significantly Pinot Meunier.
Chablis
Synonymous for white wine made from Chardonnay grapes, Chablis is part of Bourgogne, although further northwest. In the old times production was much higher than today. Chablis is a well known wine in the UK.
Loire Valley
The Loire, famous for its white wines, should be understood through the interesting grape varieties and traditions that have sprung up along the river from Nantes to Sancerre. The Loire produces the whole range: sweet wines, rosé, light reds and ageing red wines at fairly low prices.
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a large, temperate region, known for its soil structure which is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. Wines range from ordinary quality to some of the most expensive wines in the world. Its famous wines are classified by the different classification systems: Médoc, Graves, Saint-Émilion and the Crus Bourgeois. The majority of wine produced is red, grown from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc are used for white.
Southwest
This region has long been producing quality wines and is made up of many interesting sub-regions, Cahors, Fronton, Gaillac, Jurancon, Madiran.
Languedoc-Roussillon
This is a very hot wine growing region in the South, made up of Languedoc and Roussillon. Both areas have their own appellation, but the Vin de Pays d'OC are increasingly popular.
Alsace
Alsace, bordering Germany, is dominated by white grapes, with the exception of Pinot Noir. It is an AOC area where the grape can be displayed as the main description on the bottle, as in other countries. It is famous for its Gewurztraminer and Riesling wines, bottled in unique bottles.
Beaujolais
Beaujolais is characterised by its light and fruity wines from Gamay, with 'Beaujolais Nouveau' being sold in large quantities each year all over the world.
Provence
This is one of the oldest wine growing regions of France, known for the red wines of sunny and respected Bandol, and, more significantly in terms of area, the rosé wines of Provence itself.
Jura-Savoie
Jura is a wine region near Switzerland with a similar climate to Burgundy> It is most famous for its Vin Jaune, which can and needs to age incredibly long. Savoie produces mainly white wines, often to be drunk young. Savoie is located in the Alpine region and has many local grapes, such as Jacqučre.
Bourgogne
Although equally as famous as Bordeaux, this fragmented area is much smaller, therefore with much lower production quantities. Pinot Noir is the dominant grape variety together with Chardonnay. The delicate aromas of Pinot Noir are often enjoyed from a specially shaped glass.
Rhone
The Rhone area is often divided into two regions, the north and the south, though both are red wine regions. The cooler north produces fine reds from Syrah, while the southern wines are often mixed with Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault and others, as often shown by the famous Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
Vin de Pays
Traditionally higher priced wines have been AOC wines, where the producers are clearly labelled. Vin de Pays wines can offer very good value, as they too must adhere to a specific location and certain grapes, however they are increasingly popular as they can be labelled by grape variety. Vin de Pays exist around these and all other regions of France, giving the winemaker flexibility. Vin de Table is the lowest classification, but can also bring value through undervalued wines, such as natural wines.
Vintages by Region
Please note that this is a rough guide based on consensus estimates and for some regions whites and reds are not separated, nor is ageing potential identified. A more detailed guide on individual sub-regions and their vintages is necessary to be precise.
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