WINES WITH STYLE
FRENCH WINES
A STYLE OF WINE FOR EVERY LIFESTYLE
A journey through the regions
and wine styles of France
WINES WITH STYLE
FRENCH WINES :
A JOURNEY THROUGH
FRANCE’S REGIONS
ALSACE
Surface area/yield: approx. 15,900 ha/910,000 hl
Location & climate: Northeast of France, warm and dry summers
Soils: Different soil structures such as granite, limestone, clay, shale and sandstone soils
7 main grape varieties:
• White: Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Sylvaner
• Red: Pinot Noir
AOP/IGP:
• Alsace ,Alsace with local designation,
• 51 Alsace Grand Cru (only made from Riesling , Gewürztraminer,
Muscat or Pinot Gris)
• Crémant d’Alsace
• IGP Côtes de Meuse
• Vendanges tardives (late harvest)and Sélection de Grains Nobles
(made from specially selected grapes) are not appellations
but are a subordinate designation
WINES WITH STYLE
ALSACE:
Wine styles:
• Delicate, aromatic, flavourful white wines,
• Fruity, light red wines exclusively from Pinot Noir
• Delicately sparkling white and rosé wines: Crémant d‘Alsace
• Full, aromatic sweet wines (late harvest and “selection de grains nobles”)
Did you know?
• Alsace – a unique bottle shape for the still wines
• Alsace –when made from a single varietal it can be indicated on
the label
• Pinot Noir is drunk chilled in Alsace
BEAUJOLAIS
Surface area/yield: approx. 18,000 ha/850,000 hl
Location & climate: North of Lyon, temperate climate with continental,
Atlantic, and Mediterranean influences
Soils: In the north slate and granite soils in the crus; in the south, clay and
limestone soils for Beaujolais AOP and Village wines.
Main grape varieties:
• Red: Gamay
• White: Chardonnay
AOP:
• Beaujolais
• Beaujolais-Villages
• 10 Crus : Brouilly, Chenas, Chiroubles,
Côte de Brouilly, Fleurie, Juliénas, Moulin à Vent,
Morgon, Régnié, Saint-Amour
WINES WITH STYLE
BEAUJOLAIS
Wine styles:
• In the south fruity, uncomplicated red wines that should be drunk young
(Beaujolais and Beaujolais Villages)
• In the north stronger, very authentic and red wines suitable for ageing
(Crus du Beaujolais)
• A smaller proportion of white wines from Chardonnay
Did you know?
• Beaujolais – picture-postcard French countryside, perfect for back-to-the-roots tourists
• Beaujolais wines are available in red white and rosé
• The release of Beaujolais Nouveau is a planetary event. With it the whole world makes
a date every third Thursday of November at 0.00 hours, for an international popular
celebration that is dedicated to wine.
BORDEAUX
Surface area/yield: approx. 117,000 ha/6,000,000 hl
Location & climate: In southwest France along the Gironde and its tributaries.
Temperate maritime climate.
Soils: On the left bank different levels of gravel soils; on the right bank a mix of
clay, limestone and sand as well as a little gravel
Main grape varieties:
• Red: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
• White: Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle
AOP (a total of 60), grouped into 6 families of wine:
• Bordeaux, Bordeaux Superieur (red, white, rosé and sparkling)
• Côtes de Bordeaux (red and white wines)
• Entre-Deux-Mers (dry white wines)
• Médoc and Haut-Médoc (red wines), Graves and Pessac Leognan (red and white
wines). Haut Medoc has 6 important communes: Haut Médoc, Saint-Estèphe,
Pauillac, Saint-Julien, Margaux, Moulis and Listrac
• Saint-Emilion, Pomerol, Fronsac (red wines)
• Sauternes, Barsac (sweet white wines)
IGP : IGP Atlantique
WINES WITH STYLE
BORDEAUX
The classification in Bordeaux: unique in France!
Crus classés
5 Premier Cru Classé
14 Deuxième Cru Classé
Médoc: Classification from 1855
14 Troisième Cru Classé
10 Quatrième Cru Classé
18 Cinquième Cru Classé
Graves (Pessac-Léognan)
Classification from 1953 and 1959
Saint-Émilion classification from 2012
(classified for the first time in 1954)
16 Cru Classé de Graves
4 Premier Grand Cru A
14 Premier Grand Cru B
63 Grand Cru Classé
1 Premier Cru Classé Supérieur
Sauternes: Classification from 1855
11 Premier Cru Classé
15 Deuxième Cru Classé
Official recognition
Sélection Officielle des Crus Bourgois du
Médoc
246 Châteaux in 2011
Cru: vineyard with
exceptional qualities
WINES WITH STYLE
BORDEAUX
Wine styles:
• Powerful, long-lived and structured red wines in Médoc, Pomerol,
Saint-Emilion and Graves
• Aromatic, lively and dry white wines in Entre-Deux-Mers
and Graves
• Fruity, fresh rosé with intense flavour
• Botrytised sweet wines along the Garonne (Sauternes, Barsac..)
Did you know?
• The famous ‘Bordeaux Barrel’ (225 litres) originated from here
• Second wines means the wine is a “second” label of a well-known wine
BOURGOGNE
Surface area/yield: approx. 29,000 ha/1,500,000 hl
Location & climate: due to its unique geographical situation, Bourgogne is exposed
to a semi-continental climate. Varying with the seasons, the vineyards benefit from
oceanic (in spring and fall), continental (in winter), and southern (in summer) influences.
Soils: Limestone in the north and clay-limestone soils in the south
Main grape varieties:
• Red: Pinot Noir, Gamay
• White: Chardonnay, Aligoté
Burgundy wines are primarily single varietals
A hundred AOP divided into 5 subregions:
• Chablis & Grand Auxerrois
• Côte de Nuits & Hautes Côtes de Nuits
• Côte de Beaune & Hautes Côtes de Beaune
• Côte Chalonnaise & Couchois
• Mâconnais
The sparkling wine Crémant de Bourgogne
is also produced
WINES WITH STYLE
BOURGOGNE
Classification in Bourgogne
Grand
Cru
Vineyard within a commune,
with outstanding qualities - 33 AOC classified as
Grand Crus
Premier
Cru
Vineyard within a commune, with very good
qualities - 684 “climats” classified as Premiers Crus
Villages
The grapes come from one commune -44 AOC
Regional
The grapes come from sub regions within the
Bourgogne wine area -23 AOC
Did you know ?
The Climats = the expression of terroir in Bourgogne
Bourgogne’s “Climats" are well defined plots of land
benefiting from a unique blend of specific geological
and weather conditions as well as expert and
passionate workmanship.
"Climats" give Bourgogne wines their unique qualities and
have given birth to an unmatched mosaic of wines.
In Bourgogne, a “clos” corresponds to a “climat”
surrounded by man-made walls
WINES WITH STYLE
BOURGOGNE
Wine styles:
• White wines: from fresh, lively, fruity to elegant,
complex premium vintages from the Chardonnay grape
• Red wines: uncomplicated and fruity with little tannin as well as very
complex, and wines made from Pinot Noir suitable for ageing
• Fresh, fruity rosé wines with a delicate aroma
• Crémant de Bourgogne as a delicious aperitif or accompaniment to food
Did you know?
• The home of Kir: Crème de Cassis (1/5) filled with Bourgogne Aligoté (4/5) is a wonderfully
refreshing aperitif
•AOP Coteaux Bourguignons (red and white wines) was created in 2012 to replace the AOP
Grand Bourgogne Ordinaire
CHAMPAGNE
Surface area/yield: approx. 34,000 ha/2,600,000 hl
Location & climate: The northeast of France between Reims and Epernay and
southeast of Troyes, continental and maritime climate
4 main sub regions:
• Montagne de Reims, Côte des Blancs et la Côte de Sézanne, Vallée de la Marne,
Côte des Bar
Soils: Chalk, marl and limestone
3 main grape varieties:
• Black: Pinot Noir, Meunier
• White: Chardonnay
AOP:
• Champagne
• Coteaux Champenois (white, red, or rosé)
• Rosé de Riceys (still rosé wine)
WINES WITH STYLE
CHAMPAGNE
Champagne classification
Grand Cru
17 villages
Avize, Aÿ, Chouilly, Cramant, Oger…
Premier Cru
42 villages
Chamery, Dizy, Hautvillers, Rilly la Montagne…
Other Crus
261 villages out of 320 only have part of their land in a classified village
The most common category. Many wine growers
WINES WITH STYLE
CHAMPAGNE
Sweetness of Champagne (dosage)
residual sugar/l
Brut Nature
0-3 g
Extra Brut
0-6 g
Brut
0-12 g
Extra Dry
12-17 g
Sec
17-32 g
Demi Sec
32-50 g
Sweet / doux
over 50 g
WINES WITH STYLE
CHAMPAGNE
Wine styles:
• Some of the best sparkling wines in the world: elegant, individual and always special!
• Vintage Champagne: with indication of vintage, only in the best years
• Prestige Cuvées: top Champagnes, the producer’s flagship
• Blanc de Blancs is a 100% Chardonnay based wine
• Blanc de Noirs is made solely from Pinot Noir and Meunier
Did you know?
• There are no red Champagnes
• Most Champagnes come ready to enjoy and should be drunk within 1-3 years
of purchase
CHARENTE
Surface area/yield: approx. 78,000 ha/7,750,000 hl
Location & climate: Between La Rochelle and Bordeaux/mixed maritime
climate
Soils: Clay-limestone soils on soft chalk, sand
Main grape varieties:
• Red: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Pineau d’Aunis, Merlot
(not for Cognac)
• White: Chenin Blanc, Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche, Colombard
AOP/IGP:
• Cognac
• Pineau des Charentes
• IGP Charentais
WINES WITH STYLE
CHARENTE
Wine styles:
• Fresh, fruity-aromatic white wines
• Medium-strength , pleasantly mellow red wines
• Cognac, perfect after-dinner drink: floral / fruity bouquet, refined taste
• Pineau des Charentes, fruity-sweet accompaniment to desserts or aperitifs
Did you know?
Charente wines were exported to Northern Europe as early
as the 13th Century; Cognac not until the 17th Century
CORSE
Surface area/yield: approx.5,800 ha/376,000 hl
Location & climate: Mediterranean island south-east of France, Mediterranean
climate
Soils: Granite in the west, slate in the north, limestone and clay in
Patrimonio, sandy marl and alluvial soils on the east coast
Main grape varieties:
• Red: Niellucciu, Sciaccarellu, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Grenache, Carignan
• White: Barbarossa, Bianco Gentile, Ugni Blanc, Clairette, Grenache Blanc,
Vermentinu, Muscat
AOP/IGP:
AOP Vin de Corse which may be accompanied by an indication of the sub regions :
Coteaux de Cap Corse-Calvi-Sartène-Figari-Porto Vecchio
- Two regional appellations : Patrimonio and Ajaccio
- One VDN AOP : Muscat De Cap Corse
- IGP Ile de Beauté
WINES WITH STYLE
CORSE
Wine styles:
• Aromatic, floral, dry white wines
• Full-flavoured, powerful and structured red wines
• Lively, delicate full-flavoured and refreshing rosé wines
• Golden yellow, aromatic dessert wine with typical muscat aroma
‘Muscat du Cap Corse’
Did you know?
• Niellucciu, Sciaccarellu and Vermentinu are the noble grapes
of the island’s 9 appellations
• Its proximity to Italy has strongly influenced its winegrowing.
In the 16th century, Corsican wines were only allowed to
be exported to Genoa.
JURA – SAVOIE
Surface area/yield: approx. 6,200 ha/303,000 hl
Location & climate: In Eastern France, continental climate
Soils: Limestone soils in the Jura, limestone and clay soils in Savoie
MAIN GRAPE VARIETIES:
Jura:
Savoie:
• Red: Poulsard, Trousseau,
• Red: Mondeuse, Gamay, Persan, Pinot
Pinot Noir, Gamay
• White: Jacquère, Altesse, Roussane,
• White: Savagnin, Chardonnay
Chasselas, Gringet , Chardonnay, Velteliner
Jura AOPs
Savoie AOPs
•
•
•
•
•
•
• Vin de Savoie (white,red,rosé) with
16 « crus » (villages)
• Roussette de Savoie (white)
• Seyssel (white or sparkling)
Côtes du Jura (white,red,rosé)
Arbois (red or white)
Château Chalon (white vin jaune)
L’Etoile (white vin jaune or vin de paille)
Crémant du Jura (sparkling)
Macvin (lightly fortified)
WINES WITH STYLE
JURA – SAVOIE
Wine styles:
• Dry to sweet botrytised, fruity-floral white wines
• Crémant du Jura: aromatic sparkling wine
• Vin Jaune: specifically oxidised white wine: flavours of nuts, dried fruit
• Mainly earthy, peppery, full-flavoured red wines and lively rosés
Did you know?
• Vin Jaune (Jura) comes exclusively from the Savagnin grape and
may only be filled into special Clavelin bottles that hold 0.62 litres,
which is the amount left from 1 litre of wine after six years of storage.
• Vin de Paille (Jura): the grapes are dried on straw mats for at
least 6 weeks before vinification
LANGUEDOC – ROUSSILLON
Surface area/yield: approx. 210 000ha / 11 300 000hl ( récolte 2012) (AOC + IGP,
hors vins sans IG)
Location & climate: Along the Mediterranean sea, from the Pyrenees to Nimes, the
Languedoc-Roussillon benefits from a perfect Mediterranean climate. Heat,
dryness and winds are the key elements of the climate. Some Atlantic influences in
the west.
Soils: Sand sediments, clay, gravel and limestone soils on the coast,
shale and granite in the mountainous parts of the region
Main grape varieties:
• Red: Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah for PDO
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir for PGI
• White: Bourboulenc, Chardonnay, Grenache Blanc and Gris, Macabeu,
Marsanne, Mauzac, Muscat, Piquepoul, Roussanne, Viognier
AOP/IGP:
Languedoc AOPs
Cabardès, Clairette du Languedoc, Corbières,
Corbières Boutenac, Faugères, Fitou, Languedoc +
15 terroirs, Limoux, Malepère, Minervois,
Minervois la Livinière, Muscats, Picpoul de Pinet,
Saint-Chinian
Roussillon AOPs
Collioure , Côtes du Roussillon , Côtes du Roussillon Les
Aspres, Côtes du Roussillon Villages + 4 villages « crus »
(Tautavel, Lesquerde, Caramny et Latour de France),
Maury sec
Vins Doux Naturels : Rivesaltes , Maury , Banyuls,
Banyuls Grand Cru , Muscat de Rivesaltes, Muscats du
Languedoc (Mireval, St Jean de Minervois, Lunel,
Frontignan)
24 IGP denominations (L&R) including « Pays d’Oc » which is the most important in volume in France
WINES WITH STYLE
LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON
A very wide range of wine styles:
• Red: deep and lush; full-bodied and spicy; soft and supple…
• White: fresh and leafy; fruity and herbal; dry and mineral…
• Noble sweet white and red dessert wines and fortified sweet wines (Vin Doux Naturels)
• Crémant de Limoux: aromatic, elegant sparkling wine
Did you know?
• A quarter of the vines in France are in Languedoc-Roussillon
• Languedoc –Roussillon is the largest area producing organic wines.
• One of France’s oldest sparkling wines has been produced in
Limoux since 1531 (AOP Blanquette de Limoux)
• Roussillon is the cradle of fortified sweet wines (VDN)
LOIRE VALLEY
Surface area/yield: approx. 70,000 ha/4,000,000 hl (of which 52,000ha/3m hl AOP)
Location & climate: 5 sub regions from Sancerre to the Atlantic estuary
(Central Loire, Touraine, Saumur, Anjou and Pays Nantais)
A northerly vineyard within which there are two types of climate : a continental
climate in Central Loire, becoming oceanic (wetter with milder temperatures)
towards the sea.
Soils: in Sancerre limestone and clay as well as flint; in Touraine alluvial
lands with clay-limestone and sandy soils ; chalky soil further east in Anjou ;
granite, schist, and gneiss soils in the west.
Main grape varieties:
• Red/rosé: Pinot Noir, Gamay, Cabernet Franc, Grolleau (rosé)
• White: Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Melon de Bourgogne
Main AOP (69 in all):
• Central Loire: Sancerre, Pouilly Fumé…
• Touraine: AOP Touraine (white, rosé or red), Chinon, Bourgueil, Vouvray…
• Saumur: AOP Saumur (white or red), Saumur Champigny, Saumur Mousseux
• Anjou: AOP Anjou, Cabernet d’Anjou, Côteaux du Layon (sweet), Crémant de
Loire…
• Pays Nantais: Muscadet
+ 6 IGP including IGP Val de Loire
WINES WITH STYLE
LOIRE VALLEY
Wine styles:
• Fresh and aromatic white wines (dry to semi-sweet styles)and botrytised sweet white wines
• Very aromatic and fruity rosé wines with a semi-sweet taste
• White and rosé elegant sparkling wines: Crémant de Loire, Saumur, Vouvray
• Light to medium-strength, fruity red wines
Did you know?
• Loire wines are single varietal blends
• Only the Loire Valley produces rosé AOPs in a semi sweet style
• Chenin blanc in the Loire is also known as Pineau de la Loire
• The Loire Valley (Val de Loire) is included in UNESCO’s World Heritage list.
• "La route des vignobles" is the longest touristic wine road in France
and stretches along 800 km
PROVENCE
Surface area/yield: approx. 40,200 ha/2,000,000 hl
Location & climate: In the south of France between Arles and Nice,
Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot, dry summers
Soils: In the central and western part limestone and clay , in the sea side shale
and sandstone
Main grape varieties
• White: Rolle, Clairette, Ugni Blanc, Bourboulenc, Sémillon
• Red/rosé: Syrah,Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre, Tibourenc
Major AOP/IGP:
• Côteaux d’Aix-en-Provence
• Côtes de Provence
• Coteaux Varois en Provence
• Bandol, Cassis, Bellet, Les Baux de Provence, Coteaux de Pierrevert,Palette
•
IGP Méditerannée, IGP Var
WINES WITH STYLE
PROVENCE
Wine styles:
• Uncomplicated, aromatic, fresh, fruity rosé wines, crystal clear
and pink
• Red wines full of character
• Aromatic white wines, fruity-floral and full-flavoured
Did you know?
• The unique research centre for rosé wine in the world is in
Provence
• Provence produces 40% of all French AOP rosé wines
• More than 80% of the grapes are processed into rosé, using
the direct pressing or maceration with skin methods
RHÔNE VALLEY
Surface area/yield: approx. 131,000 ha/6,208,000 hl
Location & climate: Between Lyon and Avignon, continental climate in the north,
Mediterranean in the south
Soils: Schist and granite in the north, limestone-clay with small
and large pebbles in the south
Main grape varieties:
• Red: Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Mourvèdre, Cinsault
• White: Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne, Muscat, Grenache Blanc,
Clairette, Bourboulenc
Major AOP/IGP:
• Northern Crus : Condrieu, Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage,
Cornas, Saint-Joseph, Chateau Grillet, Saint Peray
• In the South : Côtes du Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages (18), Cotes du Luberon, Cotes du Ventoux
• Southern Crus : Beaumes de Venise, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas , Vacqueras , Lirac, Tavel, Vinsobres
• 2 liqueur wines: Muscat de Beaumes de Venise, Rasteau
•
•
•
IGP Comtés Rhodaniens
IGP Ardèche, IGP Drôme
IGP Vaucluse
WINES WITH STYLE
RHÔNE VALLEY
Wine styles:
• Fragrant varietals of white wines and powerful full-flavored red wines in the north
• White and red wine cuvées with individual character in the south
• Excellent, flavourful rosé wines
• Aromatic dessert wines: Vins doux naturels
Did you know?
• The wines of Northern Rhone are very different in style to those
of the south ( grape varieties, terroirs, winemaking practices)
• 90% of the production consists of red wines
• There are 13 grape varieties allowed to make
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
SOUTHWEST
Surface area/yield: approx. 26,800 ha/9,700,000 hl
Location & climate: Between Bordeaux , the Atlantic coast, the foot of the Pyrenees and
the Languedoc . Continental climate inland, maritime climate near the coast
Soils: Very varied. For example, limestone, limestone-clay, sand, gravel
Main grape varieties:
• Red: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Tannat, Fer Servadou
• White: Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Colombard, Ugni Blanc, Gros Manseng,
Petit Manseng, Mauzac, Courbu, Len de Lel
Major AOP/IGP:
• Bergerac, Buzet, Cahors, Cotes du Frontonnais, Gaillac
• Monbazillac, Saint Mont, Jurançon, Madiran
• IGP Côtes de Gascogne , IGP Comté-Tolosan ,
IGP Côtes du Tarn
• Armagnac
WINES WITH STYLE
SOUTHWEST
Wine styles:
• Fruity, discrete white wines full of character
• Strong, structured red wines, suitable for ageing
• Sweet and botrytised wines
Did you know?
• Wines of the south west come from a mosaic of different vineyards with distinct personalities
covering a triangle that is 300km long on each side
• The vineyards of the southwest are among the oldest in France
• Nowhere else are there more local, ancient grape varieties to be found
WINES WITH STYLE
CATEGORY ‘VIN DE FRANCE’
VIN DE FRANCE is the French wine category for wines with national origin : FRANCE.
Varietals and vintage can be specified on the label.
3 MAJORS ASSETS which allows to understand and appreciate French wines in an easy way:
• SIMPLICITY - An easy-to-understand message via a brand name, a grape variety, a vintage and a
famous country criterion : France
• QUALITY & CONSISTENCY - All of France’s wine regions grouped together form a vast supply
source, thereby guaranteeing stable quality and taste
• INNOVATION - The taste of the wine is adapted to consumers’ expectations thanks to a greater
flexibility in the blending process, for example allowing grapes to be blended from different
French wine regions.
Main grape varieties:
• Red: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot noir, Syrah, Grenache, Carignan…
• White: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin, Colombard, Pinot Blanc, Muscat…
Wines styles: Depending on brands strategies, Vin de France wines can be fruity or with a
greater aromatic pallet. But they are always good value for money wines.
Did you know?
VIN DE FRANCE category was launched in 2009 and it already represents 25% of the total of
still French wine sold worldwide.