France, home of Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne, is arguably the world's largest wine-producing country. For centuries, it has produced more wine - and apparently better quality - than any other country. Wine is embedded in French culture at almost every level of society; it is the drink of the elite and the common people, and a key symbol of Roman Catholicism, the majority religion in France.
However, the lasting appeal of French wine is not necessarily its Volume or prestige, but rather the variety of styles available.
Consumer preferences have Evolved over the centuries, encouraging the development of New wine styles based on the Terroir and Grape varieties available to French winemakers. Red, white, rosé, Sweet, Dry, sparkling, opulent, austere, mineral, fruity - French vineyards have produced wines that fit each of these descriptors.
The diversity of French wines is due, in part, to the country's wide variety of climates. Champagne, its northernmost region, has one of the coolest climates in the wine world, in stark contrast to the hot, dry Rhone Valley, 560 km to the Southeast.
Bordeaux, in the southwest, has a maritime climate strongly influenced by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and by the various rivers that weave their way through its vineyards. Far from any oceanic influence, eastern regions such as Burgundy and Alsace have a continental climate, with hot, dry summers and cold winters. In the deep south of France, Provence and Languedoc-Roussillon have a definite Mediterranean climate, characterized by hot summers and relatively mild winters.
Geology and topography play an equally important role in the diversity of French wines.
Chasselas rosé is a grape variety that originated in France. It produces a variety of grape used to make wine. However, it can also be found eating on our tables! This variety of vine is characterized by medium-sized bunches and medium-sized grapes. Chasselas rosé can be found in several vineyards: Alsace, South-West, Cognac, Bordeaux, Loire Valley, Rhone Valley, Languedoc & Roussillon, Provence & Corsica, Savoie & Bugey, Beaujolais.
sparkling wines from the region of France go well with generally quite well with dishes of pork, rich fish (salmon, tuna etc) or shellfish such as recipes of rabbit socks in gibelotte, salmon and parmesan quiche without pastry or cataplana with seafood.
On the nose in the region of France often reveals types of flavors of non oak, toasted almonds or mango and sometimes also flavors of baked apple, dried apricot or roasted almonds. In the mouth in the region of France is a powerful with a nice vivacity and a fine and pleasant bubble.
On 19 September 2021, the Cumbre Vieja volcanic ridge in the island of La Palma, Spain began a massive, three-month long eruption, that was a catastrophic event for this westward island in the Canarias. The volcanic fumes caused breathing problems as well as the cancellation of flights and fruit harvests, including grapes. Despite 7,000 people needing evacuation from the flow of the lava, there was only one fatality during the entire eruption. As the lava flow eventually covered over 1,000ha, mo ...
Northern Rhône 2020 overall rating: 4.5/5 A reliably fresh, balanced and approachable vintage – a return to classicism after a series of powerful years. Excellent white wines. Northern Rhône 2020 red wine of the vintage: Domaine Rostaing, La Côte Brune, Côte-Rôtie 2020 Northern Rhône 2020 white wine of the vintage: Domaine JL Chave, Hermitage 2020 The main features of the year were drought, heat and a very early harvest. Thankfully there were heavy rains in October, November and December 2019 w ...
Jestin said he has decided to retire after 35 years of helping to develop Maison Dourthe and Bordeaux in general – from exploring new vineyard management and winemaking techniques to promoting wines on the international stage. ‘Although no longer involved in the day-to-day side of the business, rest assured that I will continue to support the company as both stakeholder and trustee,’ he said. Dourthe, founded in 1840, has owned fifth growth estate Château Belgrave since 1979 but also has several ...
