WINES OF FRANCE
Ah, Provence! The name conjures up visions of lavender, sunflowers, olive trees, and wine – lots of wine – white, red, and rosé!
Provence is growing in popularity and is, hands down, one of France’s most underrated wine regions. This fascinating region sits along the Mediterranean coast of France, bordered by the Rhone River to the west and the Côte d’Azur to the east. Physically, it’s only about 150 miles long and 100 miles from north to south, but its impact is profound – 88% of Provence's wine production is dedicated to Rosé!
Wine has been made here for over 2600 years, making Provence the oldest wine-producing region of France. It is also the only place to focus on Rosé. Wine and lavender are the distinctive hallmarks of Provence.
In the very south of France, the stunning region of 𝕃𝕒𝕟𝕘𝕦𝕖𝕕𝕠𝕔-ℝ𝕠𝕦𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕠𝕟 runs along the Mediterranean coast and nestles between the Rhone Valley and the Pyrénées Mountains. Bordering the Mediterranean Sea, there are miles of white sandy beaches, and on the plain, expansive vineyards stretch toward the mountains, dotted with almond and olive trees. This region represents France’s largest wine-producing and vineyard area—more than one in three French wines are produced here.
𝔹𝕠𝕣𝕕𝕖𝕒𝕦𝕩 is a port region that extends 60 miles around the city along three rivers. It is a region of tremendous diversity in geography, soil, weather, and winemaking tradition. It produces a myriad of wines, each with a unique character. The range of Bordeaux wines is reflected in its 57 appellations, 61 grand cru classés, more than 9,000 wine-producing châteaux, and 13,000 wine growers. Bordeaux is the largest fine-wine-producing region on earth, with a production of about 158 million US gallons a year.
While France is undoubtedly the world’s most renowned wine-producing country, 𝔹𝕠𝕣𝕕𝕖𝕒𝕦𝕩 is arguably its most famous region – featuring a landscape of peerless beauty, historical heritage, and wine-making traditions that date back centuries.
𝔹𝕖𝕒𝕦𝕛𝕠𝕝𝕒𝕚𝕤, the spiritual homeland of the Gamay grape, is a region of east-central France. This region has a borderline continental climate, tempered by the presence of the Massif Central to the west and the Alps to the east. This provides a relatively warm growing season, making it ideal for generating the ripe, fruit-driven flavors which characterize particular nouveau-style wines.
The northern part of Beaujolais is made up of rolling granite hills with patches of clay and limestone, while the south is dominated by richer clay- and sandstone-based soils, and much flatter topography. This differing terroir is a dominant factor in the north, producing typically aromatic, structured, and complex wines in contrast to the lighter, younger-drinking, and fruitier style of the south.
The ℝ𝕙ô𝕟𝕖, a major river in France, rises in the Alps and flows south to the Mediterranean Sea, extending for almost 150 miles. This river lends its name to the French wine region on its banks, the Rhône Valley, as well as its major AOC, ℂô𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝕕𝕦 ℝ𝕙ô𝕟𝕖. The length of the valley provides a wide variety of soil types that Rhône wines are a product of. The region's wine-producing areas cover such a distance that is often divided between its northern and southern climes.
ℂô𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝕕𝕦 ℝ𝕙ô𝕟𝕖 is among the oldest vineyard regions on the planet. Greeks, Romans, and Medieval Popes liked the native-grape rocky soil tastes. As the reputation of these great wines grew, a 1729 royal edict required each cask to be branded “C.D.R.” (ℂô𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝕕𝕦 ℝ𝕙ô𝕟𝕖), marking the best from the rest.
When in doubt, just ask for Côtes du Rhône. These fruity red wines are delicious and easy to drink upon release, and that’s what good wine is all about.
𝔹𝕦𝕣𝕘𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕪, located in the east-central part of France, was part of a vast, tropical sea about 200 million years ago. Time transformed the seabed into limestone soils. These soils are the secret behind the zesty minerality that’s the hallmark of 𝔹𝕦𝕣𝕘𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕪 wines. If you venture into the vineyards, you can find chunks of limestone or marl (limestone mixed with clay) that contain fascinating fossilized sea creatures.
Winemaking goes back to the Romans in the 1st century AD, but it was the Catholic monks that really established the vineyards in the Middle Ages. These individuals grew the grapes for the church and the aristocratic Dukes of 𝔹𝕦𝕣𝕘𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕪. The French Revolution returned the vineyards to the people who, today, pride themselves on their attachment to the land. The personal relationship to the land has inspired growth in organic and biodynamic viticulture and winemaking.
𝔹𝕦𝕣𝕘𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕪 is divided into unique climats, or geographic areas with specific terroir. Any climat surrounded by walls is known as a clos. The 𝔹𝕦𝕣𝕘𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕪 climats are the birthplace of the terroir system of French wine, where each geographical region has its own unique wine. The region was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2015 because of its historic significance and its importance in the production and development of wine.
In essence, these diverse regions encapsulate the rich tapestry of French winemaking heritage, where every sip tells a story of centuries-old tradition, innovation, and the enduring connection between land and vine.