Fine Wine from France

Château Lagrange, France

Overview

France is arguably the most important wine producing country in the world when it comes to fine wine, and the country with which most other wine producing countries measure themselves. Romans were responsible for planting vines across France and the Catholic Church played a big part in keeping winemaking traditions alive across France in the Middle Ages. At the end of the 18th century, the vine louse phylloxera caused significant disruption to the French wine industry, as it did to most of the world, but recovery had started by the beginning of the 19th century with the replanting of vineyards and grafting of European vines onto American rootstocks. In 1935, France’s famous appellation system was introduced in an effort to protect names of French wines and guarantee their quality and provenance.

France has a wide range of climates, from the cool and marginal Champagne in the north, to the abundantly sunny Alsace in the east, and the warm and dry Rhone Valley in the south. France has an equally wide range of soil types, from the chalk in Chablis, to the gravels of Medoc, and the flint of the Central Vineyards of the Loire. Wine styles range from the world’s finest sparkling wines, to some of the world’s finest white-, red- and sweet wines.

Key Grape Varieties

In terms of grape varieties, several of the world’s most famous reach their arguably finest potential in France, including but not limited to Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Sauvignon Blanc. For more information about the grape varieties in France see either the Grape Families or the Sub Regional overviews.

Classification

France has a number of classication systems (and rules) that vary from region to region. Some consistent, some not. For ease in explaining the importance (or otherwise) of the specific classification, we have generally located that discussion in the region or sub region in which it is most relevant. Also we have not discussed every classification, only those that have most relevance to the consumer.

Key Regions and Sub Regions

France has ten major wine producing regions, but in terms of fine wine there are four regions which are significant, these are Bordeaux, Burgundy (including Chablis), Champagne, and the Rhone Valley.

However, Alsace and the Loire Valley, also have some fine wines of note, and as such, these six regions are the ones which we have chosen to focus on. We also offer the finest rose wines from Provence in southern France.

The regions of France we focus on are as follows. Just click on any of the links below to find the regions, sub regions and our selections:

• Alsace
• Bordeaux
• Bordeaux Left Bank
• Bordeaux Right Bank
• Burgundy
• Burgundy Cote de Beaune
• Burgundy Cote de Nuits
• Chablis
• Champagne
• Loire Valley
• Rhone Valley (which includes both the Southern and Northern Rhone)
• Northern Rhone
• Southern Rhone