Top 100 wines of Vin de France

Discover the top 100 best wines of Vin de France as well as the best winemakers in the region. Explore the varietals of the wines that are popular of Vin de France and the best vintages to taste in this region.

Discovering the wine region of Vin de France

Vin de France is the most basic level of quality for wines from France. These are generally uncomplicated everyday drinks - most often blends, but perhaps also Varietal wines based on a well-known Grape variety such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc. Wines from France are those that do not meet the criteria stipulated by the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) or Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) laws (see information on French wine labels). This may be because the vineyards are outside the delimited production areas or because the grape varieties or winemaking techniques used do not conform to the rules of the local appellations.

Although there are some notable exceptions to the rule, most Vin de France wines are produced from high-yielding vines in the South of France (particularly Languedoc-Roussillon), most often from widely planted traditional grape varieties such as Carignan or Merlot. These are light, Fruity wines, intended for early consumption. Many of the wines of France are "bag-in-box" or "box wine" wines, as the economies of scale of cheaper packaging are an attractive option for producers and consumers. There are, however, wines from France of exceptional interest and quality.

News from the vineyard of Vin de France

Long Read: Wine had a past with sailboats. Does it have a future too?

In 2007, Frenchman Frédéric Albert founded the Compagnie de Transport Maritime à la Voile (CTMV) with the goal of decarbonising the wine industry. The firm managed to sail its 50m-vessel four times from France to Ireland, England and Canada, before going into liquidation as a consequence of the 2008 economic crisis. Despite the failure, Albert’s pioneering project was a sign for things to come. In 2013, Le Havre-based TransOceanic Wind Transport (TOWT) followed in CTMV’s footsteps sailing some 3 ...

Join Decanter’s Champagne Krug masterclass in New York

Decanter Fine Wine Encounter NYC is a one day event on Saturday 18th June bringing together prestigious wine producers and aficionados from around the globe in one of the world’s greatest cities – New York. We have curated a fantastic line-up of masterclasses which guests can participate in throughout the day and we’re very excited to host a unique Champagne masterclass with Krug – an opportunity to taste and converse with winemaker Jérôme Jacoillot from the renowned Champagne house. ...

Decanter magazine latest issue: August 2022

Inside the August 2022 issue of Decanter Magazine: FEATURES Bordeaux 2021 en primeur First look at a tricky vintage to judge – full insight and 80 top wines to buy, selected by Decanter’s Georgie Hindle Greece Why Olly Smith loves it Sancerre’s best slope? Les Monts Damnés with Andy Howard MW Pétillant naturel: a Decanter guide for beginners By Natalie Earl LEARNING Wine wisdom Expert tips to help you on your journey through wine Read the new issue in full on the Decanter Premium app Unl ...

The best wines of Vin de France in other styles