About Wine: France

Alsace
Alsace is in the far northeastern corner of France and is noted for it's excellent white wines. It is the only AOC region in France that is allowed to produce wines designated by the name of the grape variety from which they are produced. While varietal naming is common in many other countries, the practice in France is to name the best wines for the region in which they are produced (i.e. - Champagne , Bordeaux, Beaujolais, etc.)

The Alsace region benefits from the shielding it receives from the Vosges Mountains. This mountain range is located to the northeast of Alsace and shields the region from winter weather.

Bordeaux
The Bordeaux region in southwestern France has been famed in the wine trade for centuries. Bordeaux produces more classified wine than any other region in France . The quality of this wine ranges from some of the best in the world to some that is less than perfect. Bordeaux is most noted for the red wines of exceptional quality that it produces.

The Bordeaux region stradles the Gironde Estuary that is formed when the Garonne and Dordogne rivers converge. It has a rich history and was especially important in the wars between France and England. Bordeaux is also the name of the major city within the region.

Based on the centuries of grape growing and winemaking history in the region, the local regulations allow only six grape varieties to be used in the production of red wine. (You can actually grow whatever you want, but only the 6 authorized red grapes can be used in red wines labeled ' Bordeaux '). Of these grapes, only 5 are really in use today.
They are:
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Merlot
• Cabernet Franc
• Malbec
• Petit Verdot

For white wines, there are only three grape varieties allowed:
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Semillon
• Muscadelle

The major areas of the Bordeaux region are:
• Graves
• Pomerol
• St. Emilion
• the Medoc (with many famous communes)
• Sauternes
• Barsac

Bourgogne (Burgundy)
Burgundy is located in the central part of eastern France. The Burgundy region is the home of some of the finest Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines in the world. At the southern end of the region is the area of Beaujolais which is known for its Gamay based wines. The Chablis area is a sub region of Burgundy that makes wonderful Chardonnay based wines from a poor chalky soil. The wines from the vineyard 'Le Montrachet' and from the adjoining vineyards of Chassagne Montrachet and Puligny Montrachet are prized around the world for their fine quality.

Champagne
The Champagne Region is located in northeastern France (about 1 1/2 hours from Paris by train or car) and is the home of sparkling wine. The soil in the best vineyards of the Champagne Region is mostly of the same white, chalky clay that forms the white cliffs of Dover on the English Channel. The only three legal grape varieties for Champagne are Chardonnay (for delicacy), Pinot Noir (for power) and Pinot Meunier. Champagnes go through an initial fermentation in tanks that form a very acidic still wine. Next the wine is put through a second fermentation in an individual bottle. The CO2 that is formed during this second fermentation is trapped in the bottle and over a period of time is forced into solution with the wine. The longer that Champagne ages in the cellars, the tinier the bubbles.

Champagne comes in a variety of sweetness levels. By far the most popular is a style know as 'Brut' which is fermented to dryness. In North America , a slightly sweeter type know as Extra Dry has a substantial market share. There are dryer (Natural, Savage) and sweeter versions (demi-sec, doux) of Champagne that are produced, but they represent very tiny segments.

Loire
The Loire river is the longest in France. In the length of its valley are produced some of the finest white wines made anywhere in France. Near the coast, Chenin Blanc is the preferred grape and Vouvray is the wine produced. Further up the river, Sauvignon Blanc is the grape of choice with Sancerre and Pouilly Fume as the wines that are produced. Rose d'Anjou is a popular semi-dry rose that is also made in the Loire Valley.

Rhône
The Rhone river valley in southeastern France is a grape growing and wine producing area famed for its red wines. The region is just under 150 miles long (north to south) and lies between the cities of Lyon in the north and Avignon in the south. There are 16 specific appellations that cover an area of more than 41,000 hectares. All qualities of wine are produced here from Appellation Controllee to Vin de Table. Production is 2% white, the rest being red and rose. Wines from the Rhone can achieve outstanding quality. There has been opportunity to achieve greater value in the purchase of many Rhone wines versus those of Bordeaux or Burgundy.

Some of the vineyards here are very rocky. Chateauneuf du Pape and Cotes du Rhone (means 'Slopes of the Rhone') are the two best known wines to come from this region. A wide variety of grapes are grown and blended in this region but the two most commonly used are Syrah and Grenache.

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