Category Archives: France

Wine regions of France: Alsace

Location and climate of Alsace Alsace is located in eastern France, bordering Germany and Switzerland. The climate is continental, meaning summers are warm and winters are cold. However, due to the Vosges mountains which border the region on its western side, Alsace has a microclimate with milder temperatures than other regions at similar latitudes. Summers can be sunny and hot, with July averaging highs of 25°C (77°F), but cool nights allow grapes to develop good acid retention. The Vosges mountains also provide shelter from rainstorms coming from the west; this protection comes at a cost though, as winds can be… Read more

Wine regions of France: Languedoc-Roussillon

Wine region of Languedoc-Roussillon As the sun shines down on the Languedoc-Roussillon region, its vineyards thrive. The area is famous for red wines, made mostly with Grenache and Syrah grapes. But don’t overlook one of their white wines: Picpoul de Pinet. Made from Picpoul grapes, this wine is light and refreshing and pairs perfectly with seafood. It’s also a great summertime choice if you’re looking for an alternative to your favorite Sauvignon Blanc. The most important appellation in this region is AOC Corbières. Spread out over more than 20 villages, these vineyards produce about a third of all the wine… Read more

Wine regions of France: Corsica

Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea located between France and Italy, although it is administratively a French territory. Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea located between France and Italy, although it is administratively a French territory. It is one of the 18 regions of France and an island in the Corse-du-Sud department. Corsica has a wine history dating back to ancient times when Phoenicians and Greeks first settled on the island and began producing wine. As a wine region, Corsica has been in existence for thousands of years. When the Phoenicians and Greeks first settled the… Read more

Wine regions of France: Burgundy

Location: East-Central France Burgundy is located in east-central France, about a 2 hour train ride southeast of Paris. It is home to the cities of Dijon, Beaune, and Chalon-sur-Saone. The rolling hills of the Cote d’Or sit on a slope that runs from northwest to southeast, providing varying exposures and microclimates. Soils are primarily limestone and clay with some marlstone present. The region has many forests and lakes which contribute to its cool, continental climate. While the climate can be harsh on vines during spring months when weather is volatile, it provides warm summer days followed by cool nights with… Read more

Wine regions of France: The Loire Valley

The Loire Valley is a wine region that spans from the Loire River in the north to the Atlantic Ocean in the south, where it borders with the Burgundy region. The Loire Valley is a wine region that spans from the Loire River in the north to the Atlantic Ocean in the south, where it borders with the Burgundy region. The Loire River is the longest river in France, an important artery for transportation of goods and supplies. For this reason, many towns settled along its banks and helped boost local economies of these areas. The river itself also played… Read more

Wine regions of France: Champagne

Champagne is a region in the northeast of France, bordering Belgium. Champagne is a region in the northeast of France, bordering Belgium. The Champagne wine region, which mainly produces sparkling wines, is situated about 120 miles east of Paris and about 150 miles south of Calais making it far enough away from the English Channel to avoid being too cold for vineyards to thrive. The Champagne wine region is one of France’s most important wine-producing areas. In fact this relatively small region boasts more than 300 million bottles produced annually from around 100,000 acres of vineyards. The majority of these… Read more

Wine regions of France: Côtes du Rhône

Location, geography and climate Côtes du Rhône is a wine region in southeast France. It’s on either side of the Rhône river, which stretches over 200 kilometres (125 miles) long. The climate differs based on where you are in the valley. For example, the north is cooler than the south because it’s farther away from the Mediterranean Sea, a body of water located to its south that moderates temperatures year-round and helps prevent frost during winter. Geology and soil The Côtes du Rhône’s granite soil. On the vineyards of Côtes du Rhône, winemakers grow their grapes on a variety of… Read more

Wine regions of France: Provence

Located in the south of France, Provence is the southernmost wine-producing region in France. This region has a Mediterranean climate with mild wet winters and hot summers. The climate, along with geography and soils, are what set this region apart from the others. Soils are primarily limestone and clay with some gravel deposits in certain areas. This combination helps to retain heat and allows for drainage while also slowing down evaporation in the summer months. These types of soil can be found throughout Châteauneuf-du-Pape, one of France’s most famous appellations located just north of Avignon on the Rhône River. The… Read more

Wine regions of France: Bordeaux

Bordeaux produces more wine than any other region in France. Bordeaux is the largest wine region in France, producing more wine than anywhere else in the country—and it’s been doing so for over 2,000 years, since the Romans first planted vines there. What makes Bordeaux one of the world’s most famous wine regions is its red wines; however, it also produces some quality whites and rosés as well as sparkling Crémant de Bordeaux wines. The region’s red wines are primarily made with cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc grapes, while white wines usually have sauvignon blanc and sémillon as their… Read more