Winemaking traditions in France
France has a real cult of wine. This is not surprising, because the origins of wine-making in this country date back to ancient times: the first vine plantations were planted by the ancient Greeks in the vicinity of the colony of Massalia (modern Marseille). This tradition was continued by the Romans, who also grew grapes and made wines in Gaul.
From the 6th century, monks began to engage in winemaking – they required the noble beverage for church services. The inhabitants of monasteries studied soils and their influence on the quality of fruit, and also bred new varieties of plants. As early as the 13th century, at least 70 varieties of French wines were known and exported to Great Britain and Central Europe. Aristocratic families and even kings also maintained vineyards and wineries.
However, in the middle of the 19th century, French winemaking was on the verge of collapse: the American phylloxera fly, which crossed the ocean, practically destroyed all ancient vine plantations. Fortunately, agronomists and winegrowers managed to cope with the problem by planting new bushes resistant to this pest.
In 2011, according to the French National Institute (INAO), the country had 3,420 different wines. Let’s list just a few of the famous drinks, indicating the region where they are made.
The most famous wines of France
Alsace
Located in the northern part of the country, Alsace is considered one of the most distinctive wine regions in France. The wines produced here are mostly dry and sweet white wines, named after the grape varieties from which they were made.
Some of the more famous ones include:
Riesling – this drink is produced from the vine of the same name, which began to grow in Alsace in the XIV-XV centuries. Riesling, characterized by a fine balanced taste and light fruity aroma, is considered the most elegant of all Alsatian wines.
Gewurztraminer is a typical Alsatian wine with a delicate taste and powerful aroma with notes of grapefruit, rose, lychee, peach pit. This drink is considered ideal for accompanying national dishes, including choucroute.
Burgundy (Bourgogne)
The 360-kilometer-long Burgundy wine region stretches southeast of Paris. It produces a variety of beverages, including two types of wines that are extremely popular in France:
Chablis is a famous white dry wine, the production of which began in the village of the same name located in the north of Burgundy. Only Chardonnay vines are used for the production of the drink, grown on chalky soil with a large inclusion of oyster and other mollusk shell fragments. Chablis has a refreshing sour taste and a complex bouquet: notes of lemon and apple are replaced by vanilla and flowers.
Beaujolais is one of the most famous red wines in the world, to which France dedicates a special holiday in November. The light wine with a fruity flavor is appreciated young, but it is also good aged.
Bordeaux
Located in the southwest of France, the Bordeaux region is considered one of the main producers of quality wines in the country. It is home to about 7,000 wineries producing mostly red wines. Among the most famous drinks are:
Médoc is a red wine with a refined, elegant taste and a luxurious bouquet with notes of oak, red fruits, vanilla and spices. The young drink has a slightly tart flavor, but with age it acquires harmony.
Saint Emilion is a red wine made from fruit grown in the ancient vineyards of the Dordogne Valley (UNESCO recognized them as a World Heritage Site in 2009). Saint Emilion wines have a rich color, complex taste and a bouquet with notes of red fruits, tartines and truffles.
Sauternes is one of the most famous white wines of France, which is produced using noble mold. It gives the drink a sweet and delicate taste, golden color and a subtle bouquet with notes of honey, nuts and pineapple candied fruits.
Provence
Provence is the oldest wine-growing region in France: it is here that the first plantations planted by the ancient Greeks appeared. Vineyards stretch along the Mediterranean coast and in the Var valley.
The region’s specialty is light rosé wines (Le Rosé), which have a fresh taste, fruity aroma and delicate color. Such products are produced by local producers, the most reputable of which are Côtes de Provence, Bandol.
Rhône Valley (Côtes du Rhône)
The region is a narrow ribbon, stretching for a distance of about 200 kilometers, along the two banks of the Rhone River. The majority (75%) of the wines produced here are red wines, among which are:
Châteauneuf du Pape is the most famous wine of the area, produced in the vineyards surrounding the summer residence of the Pope of Avignon. Thirteen grape varieties are used to make the drink, including Grenache, Syrah, and Clairette. Chateauneuf-du-Pape has a bright color, thick consistency, rich taste and a rich bouquet with notes of vanilla, cinnamon and red fruits.
Hermitage is a red wine with a wonderfully balanced taste and luxurious aroma with notes of chocolate, red berries, noble leather. Over time, the drink becomes softer and more refined. This wine was favored by many Russian emperors, specially prescribing it for their table.
Loire Valley (La Vallée de la Loire)
The Loire River Valley, which runs through central and western France, is one of the most picturesque wine regions in the country. It produces delicate and light wines, among which the varieties are particularly famous:
Le Muscadet is a dry white wine with aromas of white flowers, lemon and aniseed. It is considered ideal for accompanying seafood.
Rosé d’Anjou is a rose wine produced in the vicinity of Angers since the 6th century. The drink is characterized by a delicate refreshing taste, a wonderful bouquet with notes of rose and red berries. You can also recommend Anjou white wines, the bouquet of which contains notes of white flowers and apricot, as well as red wines with aftertaste of currants and ripe fruits.
Tips for buying French wines
- Because of the extremely wide selection, it is better to purchase French wines after tasting them. You can also consult a salesperson or French visitors. In addition, you should choose wines according to the type of food with which you plan to consume them.
- A definite indicator of quality is the inscriptions grand cru or premier cru, denoting that the wine is made from the finest or best vineyards in the region.
- The quality of wines (especially elite wines) can change from season to season depending on climatic conditions, so it is worth remembering not only the name, but also the year of production of your favorite wine.
- It is better to favor the wines of the region where you are located: in this case, there is an opportunity to taste rare varieties of drinks produced by local producers.
- In recent years, more and more winemakers are producing organic wines – without the use of chemical additives, herbicides and pesticides. This not only improves the quality of the product, but also guarantees the ecologically clean condition of the land where winemakers work, which is important for future generations.
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