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World
Wine Education: France |
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to a Continent |
Fun
Facts |
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1. Terroir literally means “soil”, but French wine makers have added to its meaning: shelter, drainage, angle of slope, microclimate, frost and cultivation practices.
2. France has ideal climates for growing grapes and producing wine.
3. There are two distinct stylistic traditions in Franc: Burgundy and Bordeaux.
4. Touring wine regions in France is a favorite for the world’s travelers, and France is set up to accommodate this.
5. Visiting France in the fall at vintage is fun, but do not expect to be catered to as most growers will be too busy for tours and tastings.
6. French wines are controlled with a rigid (and sometimes confusing) hierarchy system.
7. France determines the quality of a wine by its geography / terroir.
8. The Chardonnay grape is from Burgundy, and is used to produce some of the world’s finest white wine including some Champagnes and sparkling wines.
9. Cabernet and Merlot are two of the principal grapes of Bordeaux.
10. France is one of the two leading producers of wine in the world (Italy is the other, closely followed by Spain).
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| France
in Brief |
France
Features |
| France, the truest word in wine. Though many countries all over the world produce amazing wines, no other country can do so much, so well, and so naturally. France’s geography allows the perfect growing conditions for a vast number of grapes while other countries must rely on technology for improved growing and production conditions. Even today, with wine production reaching new heights in quality the world over, makers and consumers alike compare their best to France’s best for perspective. The French wine industry is one of the most closely monitored regions anywhere, with strict quality standards and bottle labeling. Some regions’ labels are more mysterious than others, however, there is a basic tier system in use that can be outlined as follows, in descending order of importance: “appellation d’origine controlee” or AOC, “vins delimites di qualite superieure” or VDQS (this designation is currently being phased out of the system), “vins de pays” and “vin de table”. After these designations, things get a little confusing. Every region has further designations, most of which differ from one another, often using the same words, but having different meanings. An AOC in Bordeuax can be a giant area encompassing several communes, whereas one in Burgundy might be a tiny parcel of vineyard within a vineyard. On top of this designation, there are further specifications, and again, these differ by region and sometimes even within the region. For further information we suggest using a good resource such as Larousse Encyclopedia of Wine or more specific texts such as Robert Parker Jr.’s Bordeaux. Now, let’s play ball! |
| Producer | Varietal | Vintage | Price | Buy Now | | Drouhin | Chardonnay | 2000 | 8.99 | Details | | Drouhin | Pinot Noir | 2000 | 10.99 | Details | | Drouhin | Burgundy White | 1998 | 39.99 | Details | | Drouhin | Burgundy White | 2000 | 16.99 | Details | | Drouhin | French White | 1998 | 45.99 | Details | | Drouhin | Burgundy Red | 1997 | 41.99 | Details |
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