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.
Foley Family Wines has returned to the acquisition trail in California by announcing its acquisition of Sonoma’s Chateau St. Jean from the Americas division of Treasury Wine Estates, owner of Penfolds in Australia. Foley said it ‘plans to restore the winery to its former glory’. A fee for the deal was not disclosed, but the purchase includes the historic 1920s chateau building, a 6,000-square-foot visitor centre, a winery facility and almost 32 hectares (79 acres) of estate vineyards. Fole ...
This is a very fine vintage for St-Joseph, with excellent red and white wines to be found along the length of the appellation. Scroll down for tasting notes and scores for the top scoring St-Joseph 2020 wines {"content":"PHA+VGhlcmUgYXJlIG1hbnkgZXhjZXB0aW9uYWwgd2luZXMgZnJvbSBzbWFsbCBidXQgb3V0c3RhbmRpbmcgZ3Jhbml0ZSB0ZXJyb2lycyB0byBiZSBmb3VuZCBmb3IgbGVzcyB0aGFuIMKjNDAgcGVyIGJvdHRsZS48L3A+CjxwPjxkaXYgY2xhc3M9ImFkLWNvbnRhaW5lciBhZC1jb250YWluZXItLW1vYmlsZSI+PGRpdiBpZD0icG9zdC1pbmxpbmUt ...
Glenfiddich has released a range of three luxury single malts, themed around time. The Time Re:Imagined collection includes 30-year-old, 40-year-old and 50-year-old expressions, priced from £900 up to £35,000. The whiskies have been matured in Speyside. Each one is presented in packaging designed to interpret different concepts of time. ‘In whisky production, we often talk about the role of malt masters and it is our responsibility to find the delicate balance between the taste of the whisky and ...