
France
Nearly synonymous with fine wine and all things epicurean ...
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.
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Henri Bourgeois Sancerre La Cote des Monts Damnes 2017Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre, Loire, France
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- D
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Novellum Chardonnay 2017Chardonnay from Languedoc-Roussillon, France
- JD
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Domaine Michel Niellon Chassagne-Montrachet 2017Chardonnay from Chassagne-Montrachet, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- JD
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Chateau de Saint Cosme Condrieu 2017Viognier from Condrieu, Rhone, France
- WS
- JD
- JS
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Louis Jadot Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatieres Premier Cru 2017Chardonnay from Puligny-Montrachet, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- WE
- RP
- BH
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Domaine Ferret Pouilly-Fuisse Les Menetrieres Cuvee Hors Classe 2017Chardonnay from Pouilly-Fuisse, Maconnais, Burgundy, France
- RP
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- BH
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Joseph Drouhin Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2017Chardonnay from Aloxe-Corton, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- JS
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- D
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Domaine Michel Niellon Chassagne-Montrachet Les Champgains Premier Cru 2017Chardonnay from Chassagne-Montrachet, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- JD
- RP
- BH
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Hubert Lamy St-Aubin En Remilly Premier Cru 2017Chardonnay from St-Aubin, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- RP
- D
- BH
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Michel Gassier Costieres de Nimes Nostre Pais White 2017Rhone White Blends from Costieres de Nimes, Rhone, France
- RP
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Albert Bichot Chablis Les Vaucopins Domaine Long-Depaquit Premier Cru 2017Chardonnay from Chablis, Burgundy, France
- JS
- WS
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Domaine du Colombier Chablis 2017Chardonnay from Chablis, Burgundy, France
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Lucien Crochet Croix du Roy Sancerre 2017Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre, Loire, France
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Joseph Drouhin Pouilly-Fuisse 2017Chardonnay from Pouilly-Fuisse, Maconnais, Burgundy, France
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Domaine de Chevalier Blanc (Futures Pre-Sale) 2017Bordeaux White Blends from Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France
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Joseph Drouhin Chassagne-Montrachet 2017Chardonnay from Chassagne-Montrachet, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- JS
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Mouton Cadet Blanc 2017Bordeaux White Blends from Bordeaux, France
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Domaine Vincent Dampt Chablis Cote de Lechet Premier Cru 2017Chardonnay from Chablis, Burgundy, France
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Chateau Carbonnieux Blanc (Futures Pre-Sale) 2017Bordeaux White Blends from Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France
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Albert Bichot Chablis Montmains Domaine Long-Depaquit Premier Cru 2017Chardonnay from Chablis, Burgundy, France
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- BH
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Louis Latour Puligny-Montrachet Sous le Puits Premier Cru 2017Chardonnay from Puligny-Montrachet, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- JS
- WE
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Chateau Margaux Pavillon Blanc (Futures Pre-Sale) 2017Bordeaux White Blends from Bordeaux, France
- D
- JS
- WW
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Chateau de Chantegrive Caroline Blanc (Futures Pre-Sale) 2017Bordeaux White Blends from Graves, Bordeaux, France
- JS
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Louis Jadot Pernand-Vergelesses Clos de la Croix de Pierre 2017Chardonnay from Pernand-Vergelesses, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- WE
- JS
- RP
- BH
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Cave de Lugny Macon Lugny Les Charmes Chardonnay 2017Chardonnay from Macon Villages, Maconnais, Burgundy, France