
French Wine
Learn about French wine, common tasting notes, where the region is and more ...
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 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.
- Chardonnay27
- Rhône White Blends7
- Bordeaux White Blends3
- Chenin Blanc1
- Marsanne1
- Other White Wine1
- James Suckling5
- Jeb Dunnuck4
- Wine Spectator3
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate3
- Wilfred Wong of Wine.com1
- Decanter1
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Clos des Lunes Lune d'Argent 2017Bordeaux White Blends from Sauternes, Bordeaux, France
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Chateau Rieussec R de Rieussec Blanc 2017Bordeaux White Blends from Bordeaux, France
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Chateau Les Charmes-Godard Blanc 2018Bordeaux White Blends from Cotes de Francs, Bordeaux, France
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