There are many flattering refrains reserved for what is regarded as the first country of wine. Call it the meccah of wine or home to the world’s best ferments, each of these compliments are amply deserved. France is literally blessed with a concentration of the world’s finest wine regions that between then produce more than 6 billion bottles of wine a year.
These regions have their own unique soil and micro climate and have influenced and shaped probably every international wine style there is be it red, white, rosé or sparkling. Bordeaux is held up as the standard for red wine as does Rhone Valley while Burgundy’s Chardonnay styles are the envy of every winemaker outside of it.
Then there is Champagne where sparkling wine was first produced and the world’s best still inarguably is. Languedoc Roussillon in the country’s south produces an abundance of wines of freewheeling styles and Loire Valley and Alsace are relatively underrated for their capacity to turn out sublime wines.
key regions
Bordeaux – Bordeaux rather fascinatingly is referred to as both a region and style. For a region known for its high quality, Bordeaux has a massive number of producers – some 13,000 picking fruit from 300,000 acres of vineyards. The legendary Bordeaux blend comprises native grapes Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
Burgundy – Burgundy’s epic reputation is built on centuries of winemaking tradition, with close historical links to the region’s monasteries. The most famous wines produced here, commonly referred to as “Burgundies” are dry red wines made from Pinot Noir grapes and white wines from Chardonnay.
Champagne – Champagne nestles less than hour’s train ride from Paris in France’s northeast. The region makes perhaps the world’s finest sparkling wine. Thousands of acres of vineyard carpet Champagne’s rolling hills, planted with wine’s key ingredients of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with sprinklings of Pinot Meunier.
Rhone Valley – The Rhone Valley in South East France is the birthplace of Syrah and a treasure trove of estates producing fine red wine blends. Northern Rhone’s cool climes is responsible for the classic peppery style of Syrah while the south is home to the notable Chateauneuf-du-Pape appellation and is widely planted with Grenache and Mourvedre grapes
Languedoc-Roussillon – Languedoc-Roussillon is bathed is perpetual sunshine and the freedom to make wine any which way. The region produces a huge amount of wine, covering practically all French wine grapes and is lightly governed by the country’s appellation rules under the Pays d’Oc IGP. It accounts for over 25 per cent of all French vineyards.
key grapes
Cabernet Sauvignon is the backbone for some of Bordeaux’s most coveted Chateaux blends and is indispensable to the world’s most important red wine region.
Pinot Noir is in its finest element in Burgundy where it produces incredibly elegant and sought after reds and is part of the iconic sparkling wine blend in Champagne.
Chardonnay is Pinot Noir’s white counterpart in Burgundy and blending partner in Champagne, expressing oaked and unoaked styles of stunning brilliance.
Syrah is the grape that defines Rhone Valley, especially Northern Rhone where the cool climate peppery style is held up as this grape’s finest style.
Sauvignon Blanc thrives in the Loire Valley, making sprightly white wines that crackle with ripe fruit as well as exuberant sparklings while also impressing with dry expressions in Bordeaux.
key styles
The Bordeaux Blend is universally held up as the standard for red wines, flooring the palate with structure, balance and the capacity to get better over decades.
Champagne is inarguably the world’s most recognised and loved sparkling wine, produced by the millions with consistently high quality, blending Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.
Chablis is Chardonnay’s most famous appellation in northernmost Burgundy, rightly so for the crisp acidity and subtle fruit
Cote Du Rhone is Rhone Valley’s most widely known and accessible appellation wine, highlighting the region’s abundant diversity of style at great value.
Notable Producers
Our Key Wines
