French Wine: Everything You Need to Know About it

France is one of the oldest countries in the world featuring viniculture. The French Wine is made from a variety of grapes that are grown using different farming styles. The most popular exotic wine-producing regions are Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne. But, they are not just all. There are many regions that produce different varieties of Wine. For centuries, French Wine has maintained its reputation as one of the finest wine quality across the globe.

The cultivation of premium grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Syrah, make the taste of the wines a little earthy, mineral, juicy, and exotic. Many key traits contribute to the quality and taste of Wines. From the cultivation of the grapevines to the manufacturing of the final product, winemakers have spent centuries paying attention to every detail. As France is one of the top wine producers in the world, we are going to highlight every style and quality level. In this blog post, we are going to introduce the different varieties and styles of French Vines.

History of French Wine

The history of French Wine is little more than extraordinary. It goes beyond the 6th century BC. Even before France was formed, the people living there cultured the cultivation of French Wine. Winemaking in France existed much before the Roman conquest. But, the fact that it was Romans who started the plantation of grapevines in the region is astonishing. It was not the French people who originally started the wine culture rather, the Roman Empire was responsible for it.

Over time, the quality of French grapes which comes in dozens of variety became famous all over the world. This kept the French wine culture alive during the Middle Ages. The Roman Catholic Chruch Monks cultivated and tested different varieties of grapevines to create wines that tasted different, and suited the climate, terrain, and soil. From here, the quality of wines in France continued to improve as skilled winemakers and scientists contributed their education in vineyard management, fermentation, and farming skills. Later, several revolutions and systems such as the Appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) system, 1935 were established. This influenced the production of grapevines across Europe and other similar countries.

Why French Wine is Different?

The earthy taste and high quality of the wines produced in France make it distinct from other countries. Many factors influence the making, cultivation, and production of French wine. It is distinct from others as it reflects the extraordinary terroir and soil of the country. The climate also influences the ripening of grapevines, and the techniques adopted by the winemakers to label their products.

France has a cool-temperate climate which brings out more distinct flavors, quality, and acidity of the grapevines. This results in fruits that are used to make fine-quality wines that are sweeter, more mineral, and contain higher alcohol levels. In the French terrain, the grapes grow slowly and irregularly leaning to a fruit type ideal for wine production. These factors make French wine more valuable, distinct, and popular than others.

What are the main regions of Wine production?

The main wine production regions in France are:-

• Bordeaux: Bordeauxis the place that yields the best quality fruit for wine production. It is the largest region for the production of high-quality wine in France. Many expensive and flavour-rich French wines are produced and consumed.
• Burgundy or Bourgogne: This region also produces some high-quality wines but the quantity is much lower than in Bordeaux. The rarity of the Wines produced in Burgundy makes them more valuable, expensive, and elusive.
• Champagne: This is the third main wine-producing region in France. The wines produced in Champagne are exceptional, sparkling, delightful, and expensive.
• Languedoc-Roussillon: The next top wine-producing region in France is Languedoc-Roussillon. The area is situated in southeast France and is considered the largest wine producer in France. However, it does not export wine but rather produces it for bulk consumption.

Types of Wines Produced in France

France produces around 2900+ varieties of wine across the whole country. The famous wine variety of France is consumed and popularly exported across Europe. The famous wine styles produced in France are:-

Here is a list of top French Wines popularly consumed across the globe.

• Rose Wine: Rose Wine is the most popular type of French Wine that incorporates some of its colors from the skin of grapes. It is widely used in functions, special occasions, or weddings. It is one of the oldest varieties of wines produced in France.
• Sauvignon blanc: This is produced from a green-skinned variety of grapes that are cultivated in the Bordeaux region of France. They are wild grapes that produce white wines with high levels of alcohol.
• Malbec: Malbec is a high-quality variety of grapes that is used to make red wine in France. The Purple grape variety is used to make the finest variety of red French vine in Bordeaux.
• Merlot: Merlot is consumed and exported to the whole of Europe due to its smooth texture, high alcohol content, and dark fruit flavor of grapes. Though it is made up of a variety of high-sweet flavored fruit, it does not taste sweet at all.
• Champagne: Champagne is a variety of sparkling wine that is produced from grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes. They have sparkling crips flavor and are manufactured in regions such as Bordeaux, and the Champagne region of France.

Conclusion

France is famous for its exotic wine flavors and quality products. Not just in the country but French Wine is consumed all over the world. The exotic flavors, terroirs, and quality of the wines produced in France make it an exception in the wine world.

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