VinoLoverFrance is a country that stands out for the quality and vast production of its wines, which currently exceeds seven billion bottles per year. There is such a wide variety of French wines, from red, rosé and white wines, to sparkling wines, sweet and fortified wines, that here are some tips of things you should consider when choosing.
1. The Designation of Origin is a guarantee of the quality of French wine
The production of wine in France is protected by a very strict system (AOC, Controlled Denomination of Origin), which requires the adherence to certain regulations and quality standards. Therefore, it is important to verify that the wine we choose has this seal of guarantee.
There are four categories of wine in France:
- A.O.C (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée): which involves strictly defined production criteria such as geographical area, grapes and cultivation techniques.
- VDQS (Delimited Wines of Superior Quality): an intermediate stage before obtaining the DOC label.
- Vin de pays (country wine): comes from the production area of the mentioned territory.
- Vin de table (table wine): wines for everyday consumption.
2. Not all good French wines are expensive
While it is true that some of the best French wines are known can have very high prices, the truth is that you can also find very good options at more affordable prices. In fact, you can find very good options for a cost of between 20 and 30 euros, or between 10 and 20 euros, even less.
There are other indicators beyond the price, which can help you appreciate the quality of wine. Not only the Denomination of Origin but also the vintage can be very useful. Some of the best vintages of French wine are: 1929, 1945, 1959, 1982, 1990, 2000, 2005, 2009 and 2010.
3. The region where the wine comes from is key
French wines are produced in practically all of France, except for Brittany, Normandy and Nord-Pas de Calais. However, each region has its own particularities and produces very different wines. It is important to take into account the specific characteristics and the most commonly used grape varieties in each one to know what to expect from their wines.
If you already know which types of grapes you prefer, a good way to approach French wines may be to look for those produced in regions where that variety stands out.
The wine regions in France and their characteristics
- Alsace: It produces aromatic wines, from dry and light, to full-bodied and strong. Its outstanding white grape varieties are Gewurztraminer and Riesling and the red one is Pinot Noir.
- Champagne: Area where the most popular sparkling wine in the world is produced, from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes.
- Burgundy: Very famous wines are produced around the world, from the red Pinot Noir and the white Chardonnay grapes.
- Loire Valley: In this area, wines of all kinds are produced, from red, dry white, rosé, sweet, sparkling and generous wines. The best known are Sancerre, Chinon and Coteaux du Layon. Its most favourite grape varieties are Cabernet Franc, Chenin Blanco, Sauvignon and Muscadet.
- Jura: These wines are special for pairing with local gastronomic specialties. The so-called yellow wine is produced there, but also red, rosé, sparkling and generous wines, from the Trousseau, Poulsard, Pinot Noir, Savagnin and Chardonnay grapes.
- Cognac & Pineau des Charentes: Cognac is a fine eau-de-vie, made from the double distillation of white wines and their maturation in oak barrels and blending with eaux-de-vie from other vintages. Pineau des Charentes is a white, rosé or red liquor wine.
- Beaujolais: Wines are made mainly from the Gamay and Chardonnay red varieties.
- Savoy: Savoy wines are especially known for the white Chignin, Abymes and Apremon, although red, rosé and sparkling wines are also produced. The main grape varieties are the red Mondeuse, Pinot noir, Gamay and Persan, and the white Chardonnay, Jacquère, Roussanne, Altesse and Chasselas.
- Rhone Valley: The complexity of its soils and its climate give a very specific character to the wines of this region, which are especially red, although there are also whites and rosés. The main grapes are Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Viognier.
- Bergerac: Here you can find red wines with body, dry whites and fruity rosés, among others. Its outstanding grapes are Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Semillon, Muscadelle, Sauvignon.
- Bordeaux: In this region a great variety of red wines, dry or liquorous whites, rosés, “clairets” or sparkling wines are produced from the Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet-sauvignon, Sémillon, Sauvignon and Muscadelle varieties.
- Armagnac & Floc de Gascogne: This is the oldest eau-de-vie in France, made from Ugni Blanche, Folle Blanche, Bacchus and Colombard grapes.
- Southwest: Here you can find light or aged reds, rosés, dry whites, sweet or sparkling, from its main grapes: Cabernet franc, Cabernet sauvignon, Merlot, Sémillon, Sauvignon and Muscadelle.
- Languedoc-Roussillon: Its Mediterranean climate, with its mild winters and hot summers, is ideal for producing red, white, rosé and even sparkling wines. The Blanquette de Limoux, the oldest wine in the world, is produced here. The most characteristic grapes are Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Carignan, Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Vermentino and Piquepoul.
- Provence: It is characterized by its rosé wines, although it also produces powerful red wines for aging, and fresh and aromatic white wines. The main grapes of this region are Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvèdre, Tibouren, Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rolle, Ugni Blanco and Sémillon.
- Corsica: Ideal place for wine tourism and to know the wineries where some of the most emblematic wines were created, from red wines for aging and rosés of great character, to some of the best known white wines in Europe. The most used grapes are Sciaccarellu, Niellucciu, Vermentinu.
VinoLover
Claudio Comella
