
French Wine
Learn about French wine, common tasting notes, where the region is and more ...
French wine is nearly synonymous with fine wine and all things epicurean, France has a culture of wine production and consumption that is deeply rooted in tradition. Many of the world’s most beloved grape varieties originated here, as did the concept of “terroir”—soil type, elevation, slope and mesoclimate combine to produce resulting wines that convey a sense of place. Accordingly, most French wine is labeled by geographical location, rather than grape variety. So a general understaning of which grapes correspond to which regions can be helpful in navigating all of the types of French wine. Some of the greatest wine regions in the world are here, including Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Rhône and Champagne, but each part of the country has its own specialties and strengths.
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the king and queen of Burgundy, producing elegant French red and white wines with great acidity, the finest examples of which can age for decades. The same two grapes, along with Pinot Meunier, are used to make Champagne.
Of comparable renown is Bordeaux, focused on bold, structured red blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc including sometimes a small amount of Petit Verdot or Malbec. The primary white varieties of Bordeaux are Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.
The northern Rhône Valley is responsible for single-varietal Syrah, while the south specializes in Grenache blends; Rhône's main white variety is Viognier.
Most of these grape varieties are planted throughout the country and beyond, extending their influence into other parts of Europe and New World appellations.
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Mongeard-Mugneret Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2019Pinot Noir from Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
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Famille Perrin Chateauneuf-du-Pape Les Sinards 2019Rhone Red Blends from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone, France
- TP
- WS
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Bouchard Pere & Fils Reserve Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2019Pinot Noir from Burgundy, France
- WS
- JS
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William Fevre Chablis Vaudesir Grand Cru 2019Chardonnay from Chablis, Burgundy, France
- JM
- RP
- JS
- BH
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Bouchard Pere & Fils Beaune Greves Premier Cru Vigne de l'Enfant Jesus 2019Pinot Noir from Beaune, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- JS
- WS
- RP
- WW
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Famille Perrin Cotes du Rhone Villages Rouge 2019Rhone Red Blends from Cotes du Rhone, Rhone, France
- WS
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Jaboulet Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert 2019Syrah/Shiraz from Crozes-Hermitage, Rhone, France
- JD
- RP
- JS
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Domaine de la Charbonniere Chateauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes 2019Rhone Red Blends from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone, France
- JD
- JS
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Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage 2019Syrah/Shiraz from Hermitage, Rhone, France
- RP
- JD
- D
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Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau 2019Rhone Red Blends from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone, France
- JS
- RP
- V
- JD
- WS
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Chateau L'Evangile 2019Bordeaux Red Blends from Pomerol, Bordeaux, France
- JD
- D
- JS
- WS
- RP
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William Fevre Chablis Champs Royaux 2019Chardonnay from Chablis, Burgundy, France
- WE
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Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc 2019Rhone White Blends from Hermitage, Rhone, France
- JD
- D
- RP
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Chateau Fuisse Pouilly-Fuisse Tete de Cuvee 2019Chardonnay from Pouilly-Fuisse, Maconnais, Burgundy, France
- WS
- BH
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Billaud-Simon Chablis 2019Chardonnay from Chablis, Burgundy, France
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Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits-St-Georges Les Pruliers Premier Cru 2019Pinot Noir from Nuits-St-Georges, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- WS
- JM
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Mongeard-Mugneret Clos Vougeot Grand Cru 2019Pinot Noir from Vougeot, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- RP
- WS
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Albert Bichot Vosne-Romanee Domaine du Clos Frantin 2019Pinot Noir from Vosne-Romanee, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- WW
- WE
- V
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Jean-Luc Colombo Cotes du Rhone Les Abeilles Blanc 2019Rhone White Blends from Cotes du Rhone, Rhone, France
- WE
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William Fevre Chablis Bougros Grand Cru 2019Chardonnay from Chablis, Burgundy, France
- JS
- JM
- RP
- WS
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Chateau Haut-Monplaisir Cahors Tradition 2019Malbec from Cahors, Southwest, France
- WE
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Domaine Weinbach Pinot Blanc 2019Pinot Blanc from Alsace, France
- WS
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Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau (1.5 Liter Magnum) 2019Rhone Red Blends from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone, France
- JS
- V
- JD
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Jaboulet Hermitage La Maison Bleue 2019Syrah/Shiraz from Hermitage, Rhone, France
- RP
- JD
- JS
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Domaine de la Janasse Chateauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes 2019Rhone Red Blends from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone, France
- WE
- JD
- D
- WS
- JS