Wine Regions of FRANCE
Alsace
Alsace is primarily a white-wine region, though some red, rosé, sparkling and sweet
wines are also produced. It is situated in eastern France on the river Ill and borders
Germany, a country with which it shares many grape varieties as well as a long tradition
of varietal labelling. Grapes grown in Alsace include Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot
gris, Pinot blanc, Pinot noir, and Muscat.
Beaujolais
Beaujolais is primarily a red-wine region generally made from the Gamay grape, though
some white and sparkling rosé are also produced. It is situated in central East of France
following the river Saone below Burgundy and above Lyon. There are 12 appellations in
Beaujolais including Beaujolais AOC and Beaujolais-Villages AOC and 10 Crus:
Brouilly, Regnié, Chiroubles, Cote de Brouilly, Fleurie, Saint-Amour, Chénas, Juliénas,
Morgon and Moulin-a-Vent. The Beaujolais region is also notorious for the Beaujolais
Nouveau, a popular vin de primeur which is released annually on the third Thursday of
November.
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a large region on the Atlantic coast, which has a long history of exporting its
wines overseas. This is primarily a red wine region, famous for the wines Château LafiteRothschild, Château Latour, Château Mouton-Rothschild, Château Margaux and Château
Haut-Brion from the Médoc sub-region; Château Cheval Blanc and Château
Ausone in Saint-Émilion; and Château Pétrus and Château Le Pin in Pomerol.
The red wines produced are usually blended, from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and
sometimes Cabernet Franc.
Bordeaux also makes dry and sweet white wines, including some of the world's most
famous sweet wines from the Sauternes appellation, such as Château d'Yquem.
Brittany
Brittany is not an official wine region any more. Yet it has a rich history related to grape
growing and winemaking and has recently been demonstrating a revival of its viticulture.
Several small recreational vineyards were established in the last two decades e.g. in
Rennes, Quimper, Morlaix, Le Quillo, Cléguérec, Sain Sulliac, Le Folgoët, etc.
Burgundy
Burgundy or Bourgogne in eastern France is a region where red and white wines are
equally important. Probably more terroir-conscious than any other region, Burgundy is
divided into the largest number of appellations of any French region. The top wines from
Burgundy's heartland in Côte d'Or command high prices. The Burgundy region is divided
in four main parts:
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The Cote de Nuits (from Marsannay-La-Cote down to Nuits-Saint-Georges)
The Cote de Beaune (from north of Beaune to Santenay)
The Cote Chalonnaise
The Maconnais
Two parts of Burgundy that are sometimes considered as separate regions are:
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Beaujolais in the south, close to the Rhône Valley region, where mostly red wines are
made in a fruity style that is usually consumed young. "Beaujolais Nouveau" is the
only wine that can be legally consumed in the year of its production (Third week end
of November)
Chablis, halfway between Côte d'Or and Paris, where white wines are produced on
chalky soil giving a more crisp and steely style than the rest of Burgundy.
There are two main grape varieties used in Burgundy – Chardonnay for white wines, and
Pinot noir for red. White wines are also sometimes made from Aligoté, and other grape
varieties will also be found occasionally.
Champagne
Champagne, situated in eastern France, close to Belgium and Luxembourg, is the coldest
of France's major wine regions and home to its major sparkling wine. Champagne wines
can be both white and rosé. A small amount of still wine is produced in Champagne (as
AOC Coteaux Champenois) of which some can be red wine.
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean the wines of which are primarily consumed on
the island itself. It has nine AOC regions and an island-wide vin de pays designation and
is still developing its production methods as well as its regional style.
Ile de France
Ile de France is not an official wine region any more. Yet it has a rich history related to
grapegrowing and winemaking and has recently been demonstrating a revival of
its viticulture. 5 villages of Ile de France (north-east of the Seine et Marne department)
are part of the Champagne area and more than 200 small recreational vineyards were
established in the last decades covering about 12 hectares altogether.
Jura
Jura, a small region in the mountains close to Switzerland where some unique wine
styles, notably Vin Jaune and Vin de Paille, are produced. The region covers six
appellations and is related to Burgundy through its extensive use of the Burgundian
grapes Chardonnay and Pinot noir, though other varieties are used. It also shares cool
climate with Burgundy.
Languedoc-Roussillon
Languedoc-Roussillon is the largest region in terms of vineyard surface and production,
hence the region in which much of France's cheap bulk wines have been produced. Socalled "wine lake", Languedoc-Roussillon is also the home of some innovative producers
who combine traditional French wine like blanquette de Limoux, the world's oldest
sparkling wine, and international styles while using lessons from the New World. Much
Languedoc-Roussillon wine is sold as Vin de Pays d'Oc.
Loire
Loire valley is a primarily white-wine region that stretches over a long distance along the
Loire River in central and western France, and where grape varieties and wine styles vary
along the river. Four sub-regions are situated along the river:
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Upper Loire is known for its Sauvignon blanc, producing wines such as Sancerre
AOC, but also consisting of several VDQS areas;
Touraine produces cold climate-styled white wines (dry, sweet or sparkling)
from Chenin blanc in Vouvray AOC and red wines from Cabernet Franc in Bourgueil
AOC and Chinon AOC;
Anjou-Saumur is similar to the Tourain wines with respect to varieties, but the
dry Savennières AOC and sweet Coteaux du Layon AOC are often more powerful
than their upstream neighbours. Saumur AOC and Saumur-Champigny AOC provides
reds; and
Pays Nantais is situated closest to the Atlantic, and Muscadet AOC produces white
wines from the Melon de Bourgogne grape.
Normandy
Normandy is not an official wine region any more. Yet it has a rich history related to
grapegrowing and winemaking and has recently been demonstrating a revival of
its viticulture. Several small recreational vineyards were established in the last two
decades and an at least one operates on a commercial scale in Grisy near Caen.
Picardy
Picardy is not an official wine region any more. Yet it has a rich history related to
grapegrowing and winemaking and has recently been demonstrating a revival of
its viticulture. 40 villages of Picardy (south of the Aisne department) are now part of
the Champagne area and several small recreational vineyards were established in the last
two decades e.g. in Coucy le Château, Gerberoy, Gouvieux, Clairoix, etc.
Provence
Provence, in the south-east and close to the Mediterranean. It is perhaps the warmest
wine region of France and produces mainly rosé and red wine. It covers eight major
appellations led by the Provence flagship, Bandol.[25] Some Provence wine can be
compared with the Southern Rhône wines as they share both grapes and, to some degree,
style and climate.[25][26][27] Provence also has a classification of its most prestigious
estates, much like Bordeaux.[28]
Rhône
Rhone Valley, primarily a red-wine region in south-eastern France, along the Rhône
River. The styles and varietal composition of northern and southern Rhône differ, but
both parts compete with Bordeaux as traditional producers of red wines.
Savoy
Savoy or Savoie, primarily a white-wine region in the Alps close to Switzerland, where
many grapes unique to this region are cultivated.
South West France
South West France or Sud-Ouest, a somewhat heterogeneous collection of wine areas
inland or south of Bordeaux. Some areas produce primarily red wines in a style
reminiscent of red Bordeaux, while other produce dry or sweet white wines. Areas
within Sud-Ouest include among other:
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Bergerac and other areas of upstream Dordogne;
Areas of upstream Garonne, including Cahors;
Areas in Gascony, also home to the production of Armagnac, Madiran, Côtes de
Gascogne, Côtes de Saint-Mont, Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh and Tursan;
Béarn, such as Jurançon; and
Basque Country areas, such as Irouléguy.
There are also several smaller production areas situated outside these major regions.
Many of those are VDQS wines, and some, particularly those in more northern locations,
are remnants of production areas that were once larger.
Burgundy Wine Regions
The French Wine region of Burgundy (aka “Bourgogne”) may be small in size but its influence
is huge in the world of wine.
Burgundy Wine History About 200 million years ago, the region was part of a vast, tropical sea
which created limestone soils, the secret behind the zesty minerality that’s a hallmark of
Burgundy wines. In fact, if you venture into the vineyards you can find chunks of limestone or
marl (limestone mixed with clay) that have fascinating fossilized sea creatures mixed within.
Winemaking goes back to the Romans in the 1st century AD but it was the Catholic monks that
really established the vineyards in the Middle Ages growing grapes for the church and the
aristocratic Dukes of Burgundy. The French Revolution gave the land back to the people who,
today, pride themselves on their attachment to the land. So much so that many are practicing
sustainable, organic and bio-dynamic viticulture and winemaking in ever increasing numbers.
Burgundy Wine
The easiest way to wrap your brain around Burgundy is that there are just two grape varieties to
remember:
Pinot Noir & Chardonnay
To the ‘vigneron” (winemakers/growers) Burgundy is not only the original home of these grapes
but the ’terroir’ that best expresses their character – elegant, aromatic, complex and highly
enjoyable!
Where exactly is Burgundy?
Located in the east-central part of France, Burgundy has 5 wine growing areas (not including
Beaujolais and Châtillonnais):
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Chablis
Côte de Nuits
Côte de Beaune
Côte Chalonnaise
Mâconnais
CHABLIS
“Famous for Chardonnay”
Chablis is the furthest north and
geographically set apart from the rest of
Burgundy. The river Serein (Serene)
flows through the area, moderating the
climate and grapes have been grown here
since the Cistercian monks first started
the vineyards in the 12th century.
In reality, it’s really closer to
Champagne, both in terms of location and
climate, with harsh cold winters, spring
frost and hot summers. The dominant soil
here is called “Kemmeridgian” limestone, just like in Champagne. Its white chalky texture is
good at retaining and reflecting the warmth of the sun, sorely needed this far north, which helps
the grapes ripen and gives the wines a purity and crispness that just says “Chablis”.All the wines
are white and made with Chardonnay grapes.
CÔTE DE NUITS
“Famous for the richest Pinot Noir”
The Côte de Nuits (named after walnut
trees!) is home to 24 Grand Cru
vineyards and some of the world’s most
expensive vineyard real estate. The area
begins just south of Dijon and ends at
the village of Corgoloin. 80% of the
wines produced here are Pinot Noir and
the remaining 20% either Chardonnay
or Rosé – a specialty of Marsannay.
The Grand Cru vineyards form a
patchwork on the eastern slopes facing
the valley of the Saône River starting at
the village of Gevery Chambertin, past
Morey St-Denis and south to Vougeot
and Vosne Romanée. Most are small
and can have many owners, due to the structure of post French Revolution inheritance laws.
CÔTE DE BEAUNE
“Famous for rich Chardonnay”
The Côte de Beaune – named after the medieval village that is the heart of wine commerce in
Burgundy – is quite different than its
neighbor to the north. Here, the valleys
are open and rolling, the vineyards have
more of a southeasterly exposure and
Chardonnay plays a more important
role with 7 of the 8 Grand Cru
vineyards producing white wine –
Corton, Corton Charlemagne,
Montrachet ( literal translation: Bald
Mountain), being some of the well
known names.
Côte de Nuits + Côte de Beaune = Côte
d’Or
The 2 most historically important regions in Burgundy make up the Côte d’Or or Golden Slope
CÔTE CHALONNAISE
“Great for Value Pinot Noir and Sparkling Crémant”
Côte Chalonnaise situated between the towns of Chagny and Saint-Vallerin. Here there are no
Grand Cru vineyards. The Dukes of
Burgundy were centered in Dijon
and liked to keep their holdings
close to home. They considered
these areas to the south to be more
rural and for the peasants!
In the northern part of the region is
Bouzeron, the only appellation
devoted to the other white grape of
Burgundy, Aligoté. This is a perfect
summer sipper or choice for fish
and shellfish. Aligoté is floral, citrus
and flint, with perhaps a touch of
honey.
Rully, a vibrant center of Cremant de Bourgogne production since the 19th century. These white
and rosé sparklers are made in the traditional method just as in Champagne.
The villages of Mercurey, Givry and Montagny lay atop wonderful soils; layers of Jurassic
limestone and marl with topsoils of eroded pebbles and clay. In fact, the area around Givry, in
the middle of the Chalonnaise, has over 13 types of soil. These different plots give the wines
individual character and the winemakers here really know their soils, with some having held the
vineyard lands since the 17th century.
The wines from this area range from smooth Chardonnays with subtle oak influences and ripe
tree fruits to more rustic Pinot Noir filled with dried strawberry, cherry, earth and forest
influences and suede-like tannins.
MÂCONNAIS
The south region, and the largest of Burgundy, is
the Mâconnais. Once thought ‘ordinary’ this region
is somewhat the ‘rogue’ of the family. During hard
times, like the worldwide depression of the 1920’s
and two World Wars, this region felt the brunt.
Many of the local growers sold their grapes to cooperatives to survive. By the 1960′s and 70′s, tastes
began to change with the consumption of wine
dropping. They realized they needed to improve the
wines if they wanted to compete. Fruit quality
standards were set and many younger growers,
inheriting the family vineyards, decided to make
their own wines.
Located between the town of Tournus and St. Veran it lies at the crossroads between Northern
and Southern France. The change is striking. The climate is decidedly warmer too; in fact harvest
begins a full two weeks earlier here than in Chablis.
In the centre of the region is Viré-Clessé. Although it was declared as an appellation in 1999,
outstanding wines have been made here for centuries.
The influence of the warmer climate shows in the well-structured Chardonnays with notes of ripe
stone fruits, honeysuckle, citrus peel and wild herbs.
The main area, and most famous, is in the south: Pouilly-Fuissé, This region is a beautiful, open
amphitheater of vineyards, with the villages in the valley bottom, lying in the shadow of Mont
Solutré and Mont Vergisson.. Many of the vineyards border Beaujolais, just over the hills to the
south. The soils here are limestone with some granite as well.
The wines are white, made from Chardonnay and display soft apple, pineapple and white peach
aromas with wonderful structure and freshness.