French wine in France

The categories of wine in France

- Appellation d'Origin Protégée (AOP)
- Appellation d'Origine Vin De Qualité Supérieure (AOVDQS)
- Vin de pays
- Vin de table

Merlot makes up for 14% of the planted grape variety in France.

The most recognised and famous grape varieties in France are Merlot, Ugni Blanc, Grenache, Syrah, Cabernet sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, Cabernet Franc and Carignan.

The 4 styles of wines which are produced in France

Red wines from grape varieties like Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Zinfandel.
Rosé wines like the Provençal rosé and the sweet White Zinfandels.
White wines like a Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Moscato.
Sparkling wines from Champagne and Vouvray.

The information printed on the label of the wine bottle generally includes the estate's name, its classification appellation, its vintage, its alcohol content and its volume.

The wine producing regions in France

Bordeaux
Bordeaux with its temperate Mediterranean climate produces mainly red Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc wines. It consists of 57 appellations (AOC) and 38 sub-regions, which makes it the largest appellation wine producer in France.

Burgundy
Burgundy has mainly continental, with a hot summer season with a large number of microclimates. Burgundy wines products consist mainly of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Champagne
The champagne AOC region of France, about 100km East of Paris is famous for its
sparkling Blanc de Blancs and Blanc de Noirs.

Rhone Valley
The Rhone Valley with the Rhone river running though its department splitting it into the Southern Rhone and Northern Rhone Valley. It wine are known as Syrah and Grenache Syrah Mourvèdre. Its most famous wine is Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Provence
The Provence region of France with is warm and mild climate is well known for its rosé wines.

Alsace
The wines the Alsace region of France are named after the grape variety so you will find titles like 'Rosenhof Pinot Gris 2018'. Its known for its elegant, dry Riesling wines, off-dry Pinot Gris and luscious, rich Gewürztraminer

Beaujolais
To the south of Burgundy lies Beaujolais with its famous vibrant, fruity red wines made from Gamay. The wines flavour is enhanced by the soil from the Nizerand river.

Corsica
The 6 regions of Corsica are Cap Corse, Patrimonio, Calvi, Ajaccio, Sartène, Figari, Porto-Vecchio and the Greater Vin de Corse region.

Languedoc-Roussillon
The Languedoc region main wine region are St. Chinian, Faugères, Picpoul de Pinet, Corbières, Limoux and Blanquette de Limoux.

Loire Valley
The Loire Valley is most famous for it Sancerre grape variety with its territories divided into Pays Nantais, Anjou, Touraine, and Centre.

South West France
The South West of France is home to the Malbecs, Colombard, Ugni Blanc, and Gros Manseng. The regions are divided into the Dordogne/Bergerac, Garonne, Gascony, Béarn, and Basque Country regions.