French Wine Regions
France has some of the most famous wine producing regions in the world.
The wines from Alsace are primarily white wines.
Riesling. Alsatian Rieslings are dry, aromatic, fuller, and more ripe than the German ones.
Gewürztraminer. Fantastic aromas that no other grapes can copy: Grapefruit, Pineapple, Mango, Apricot, Lychee, Rose Petals, and Spices.
Pinot Gris. Italian Pinot Grigio and Alsatian Pinot Gris is the same grape, but Alsatian wines are more fruity, with more aromas, and more sweetness.
Pinot Blanc. Known to be much like Chardonnay as a full body wine with good acidity.
Muscat Blanc.
Crémant d’Alsace. Sparkling wine made by the Champagne method, from several grapes (Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, and Riesling). An interesting alternative to French Champagne.
Bordeaux is the most famous wine region in the world.
The eastuary Gironde, formed by the rivers Garonne and Dordogne, splits Bordeaux into the Left Bank and Right Bank, where the famous Bordeaux Blends are produced.
On the Left Bank, Cabernet Sauvignon is the primary grape. On the Right Bank, Merlot is the primary grape.
The region is also very famous for its Bordeaux Blanc Wines.
In Beaujolais, the hierarchy of vineyards is divided into three primary levels, each producing wines of varying styles, quality, and characteristics:
Baujolais AOC represents the basic level of Beaujolais wines. It covers all the 72 communes of Beaujolais.
Beaujolais Villages is located in the northern part of Beaujolais and includes 38 village.
Beaujolais Crus is the highest level in the hierarchy. It consists of 10 crus located in the northernmost, hilly region of Beaujolais.
All Beaujolais wines are produced from the Gamay grape. A speciallity of the region is Beaujolais Nouveau.
Bourgogne is one of the most famous and historically significant wine regions in the world. With a semi-continental climate it is the perfect place to cultivate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
The vineyards are classified into 6 sub-regions, each with its own distinct characteristics and appellations:
- Chablis
- Côte d'Or
- Côte de Nuits
- Côte de Beaune
- Côte Chalonnaise
- Mâconnais
In Chablis, The only grape allowed is Chardonnay.
Chablis wines are classified into 4 quality levels ("cru" levels):
Petit Chablis is the lowest classification. The wines are lighter, less complex, and come from vineyards located on the outer fringes of the Chablis region.
Chablis represents the majority of the production. The wines are more complex than Petit Chablis, with pronounced minerality, fresh acidity, and citrus notes.
Chablis Premier Cru wines come from more prestigious vineyards. The wines are more complex, structured, and can age well.
Chablis Grand Cru is the highest classification. The wines come from 7 designated vineyards located on the same hillside near the town of Chablis. These wines are rich, complex and age-worthy, offering incredible depth, concentration, and balance.
Champagne is synonymous with elegance, luxury, and celebration. The combination of unique terroir, grape varieties, and winemaking techniques has established Champagne as the most prestigious wine in the world.
Vallée de la Marne. Famous for fruity and approachable Pinot Meunier-dominant wines.
Montagne de Reims. Known for robust and structured Pinot Noir-dominant Champagnes.
Côte des Blancs. Known for Chardonnay-dominant Champagnes with finesse, acidity, and elegance.
Côte des Bar in the Aube department, has gained recognition for its Pinot Noir-based Champagnes.
The Loire Valley is known for its diverse climate, soils, and wine styles, from elegant white wines to delicate reds, sparkling, and rosés. It can be grouped into 4 regions along the river Loire:
Pays Nantais with its crisp and mineral-driven white Muscadet wines
Ajou-Saumur with focus on Rosé de Loire and Cremant de Loire.
Touraine is famous for its white Vouvray produced from Chenin Blanc, and its red Chinon and Bourgueil wines made from Cabernet Franc.
Centre-Loire with its superb Sauvignon Blanc wines from Sancerre an Pouilly-Fumé.
The signature white grapes in Loire are Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc.
The signature red grape is Cabernet Franc.
The Languedoc wine region is the largest and most diverse wine region in France.
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre. The GSM grapes form the backbone of most Languedoc red blends. The wines are typically full-bodied with ripe, dark fruit flavors.
Picpoul de Pinet. The most famous white wine from Languedoc. Picpoul is a high-acid, citrusy grape, and the wines are crisp, refreshing, and perfect for pairing with seafood.
Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne. Typical white grapes used in Languedoc blends. The wines are generally full-bodied with flavors of stone fruits (peach, apricot), citrus, and floral notes.
Crémant de Limoux. Languedoc is home to Limoux, which claims to have produced sparkling wine before Champagne.
Syrah is the only red grape allowed in the Northern Rhône.
The white grapes allowed in Northern Rhône are:
The Southern Rhône features a warmer Mediterranean climate and a wide variety of soil types.
The main grape in the south is Grenache.
The region is also famous for its GSM wines: A blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre.
The area also produces whites, rosés, and even some sweet wines.
The climate is Mediterranean – dry with plenty of sunshine – and heavily influenced by the Mistral wind, which gusts through the vineyards, helping the grapes to stay healthy all year round.
Grenache, Syrah, Carignan. Like Languedoc, Roussillon’s red blends are dominated by Grenache, Syrah, and Carignan, but the wines tend to be richer, with more concentration and ripeness due to the hotter climate.
Grenache Blanc, Macabeu, Roussanne. White wines in Roussillon are full-bodied and aromatic, often with a rich texture and flavors of stone fruits, citrus, and herbs.
Banyuls. A fortified wine from the coastal area of Banyuls, it is made primarily from Grenache. Banyuls is rich, sweet, and often compared to Port.
Muscat de Rivesaltes. A sweet, fortified white wine made from Muscat grapes. It is fragrant and floral, with vibrant notes of citrus, peach, and honey, consumed as an aperitif or with desserts.
- Savagnin
Savagnin is the star of the Jura region as the key grape in the famous Vin Jaunes. - Trousseau
White wines made from Altesse grapes. - Poulsard
. - Crémant de Jura AOP
Sparkling wines made with Méthode Champenoise.
- Vin de Savoie AOP
White, red, rosé, and sparkling wines (mostly white), made from grape varieties Jacquère (50%), Altesse, Chasselas, Verdesse, Chardonnay, and Roussanne. - Rousette de Savoie AOP
White wines made from Altesse grapes. - Seysell AOP
Dry white and sparkling wines. - Crémant de Savoie AOP
Sparkling wines made in the traditional Méthode Champenoise.
The winemakers in south west France are traditionally oriented towards classical Bordeaux styles, but you will also find very good wines produced from many local grapes:
Bergerac AOC. Red an white wines close in style to those of Bordeaux.
Monbazillac AOC. Dessert wines from botrytized grapes similar to Sauternes.
Cahors AOC (the cradle of Malbec). Deeply colored Malbec. Merlot. Tannat.
Fronton AOC: Known for medium-light red and rosé wines from the Negrette grape.
Madiran AOC. The most famous French Tannat wine.
Jurançon AOC. Complex sweet wines from Petit Manseng.
Côtes de Gascogne IGT. Dry light-bodied white wines from Ugni Blanc.
