French wine

The beating heart of the ‘old wine world’ French wine is celebrated globally for its quality, tradition, and unique regional styles – with wine regions such as Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne representing the very pinnacle of their styles. Boasting over 200 grape varieties, France offers a vast wine spectrum, from elegant reds and crisp whites to exquisite sparkling wines, each embodying a unique regional identity. It’s perhaps no surprise then that this nation of winemakers is also a nation of wine lovers – drinking around 21 million litres annually.

France is home to renowned wine regions like Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne, each offering unique and prestigious wines.

These regions have become synonymous with fine wine and have set the benchmark for many types of grapes, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. There are 11 primary growing regions in France, the most well-known include:

• Bordeaux: Boasting renowned châteaux and globally acclaimed red wine blends valued for their depth and structure, Bordeaux is a bastion for Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Its reputation is upheld through strict wine production standards, making its vintages sought-after globally with notable wines from Margaux, Pauillac and Saint-Émilion.
• Burgundy: The spiritual home of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Burgundy wines are prized for their exquisite balance of power and finesse. Key Burgundian sub-regions include Côte d’Or, Chablis and Beaujolais.
• Champagne: Situated in the northeast, Champagne is best known for its namesake sparkling wine. A sophisticated blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, Champagne offers diverse styles from the crisp Brut to the slightly sweeter Demi-Sec.
• Rhône Valley: The Rhône River adds charm to this valley known for its Shiraz-centric reds in the north and Grenache blends in the south. Notable sub-regions include Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage and Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
• Loire Valley: A hub for white wines, the Loire Valley produces top-tier Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Melon de Bourgogne wines. The region’s crisp, high-acidity wines are showcased in labels such as Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, Vouvray and Muscadet.

To protect the origins of their wines, the French keep track of where and how wines are made using the Appellation d’origine contrôlée labelling system – commonly abbreviated to AOC.

An AOC label is a certification of authenticity awarded to specific areas where environmental and human factors give products, such as wine, distinctive characteristics.

Wines with this label must meet strict standards, including specific ratios of varieties in blended wines, minimal alcohol content and how the vineyards are planted. There are 360 AOCs in France, most within the leading wine regions such as Bordeaux and the Rhône Valley.

French red wines are considered some of the best in the world – from Bordeaux’s deep and well-structured blends, Burgundy’s graceful Pinot Noirs, Rhône Valley’s assertive Shiraz, to the fresh and vibrant Gamay wines of Beaujolais.

France’s most famous red wine is the Bordeaux blend – an expert mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and other red grapes, creating age-worthy wines with complex flavours, rich tannins and a balanced structure. The most famous Bordeaux wines of all are known as the First Growths (or premier cru classés) – five chȃteaux considered the elite of French wine production. They are Haut-Brion, Lafite Rothschild, Mouton Rothschild, Latour and Margaux. Wines from these estates can fetch staggering prices … from hundreds to tens of thousands of pounds!

Another world-famous French red is the Rhône’s Châteauneuf-du-Pape. A Grenache blend, these wines are known for their rich and complex flavours, with notes of dark fruits, spices and herbs. What makes them so sought after is that this wine is only made in small batches, making it a more exclusive wine that isn’t widely available. It was also the first French wine appellation – created in 1936. Other famous French red wines include:

• Burgundy Pinot Noir. Some of the most expensive and celebrated wines in the world come from Côte d’Or (Burgundy’s Golden Slope). 
• Beaujolais. The first Beaujolais of the harvest (called Beaujolais Nouveau) even has its own festival, celebrated on the Third Thursday of November each year.

Burgundy Chardonnay, Chablis, Sancerre, Sauternes, Champagne… France showcases an impressive array of world-famous white wines, distinguished by regional nuances and unique flavour profiles. Here are some of the standout varieties:

• Chardonnay: One of the most widely planted white wine grapes in France, it is grown in several regions, including Burgundy, Champagne and the Loire Valley. While some French Chardonnays are crisp without oak ageing, others gain a rich, creamy flavour from maturing in oak barrels.
• Sauvignon Blanc: Recognised for its lively acidity and lighter body, this grape thrives in the Loire Valley and Bordeaux. Its aroma often carries citrus, green apple, and gooseberry notes, complemented by a hint of minerality.
• Chenin Blanc: Mostly grown in the Loire Valley, Chenin Blanc offers wines ranging from dry and sharp to sumptuously sweet, all underlined by its innate high acidity and layered flavours.
• Riesling: Though primarily linked with Germany, the Alsace region in France is also home to the Riesling grape. Celebrated for their bright acidity and pure fruit tones, Alsace Rieslings also offer good ageing prospects.
• Viognier: A staple in the northern Rhône Valley, Viognier makes full-bodied, aromatic wines with flavours of apricot, peach and honeysuckle, often with a rich, luxe texture.
• Sémillon: This variety is commonly blended with Sauvignon Blanc to create classic white Bordeaux wines. Sémillon adds body and richness to a blend but can also be used to make sweet wines such as Sauternes.

For the best French rosé wines, look no further than Provence. Located in the southeastern region near the Mediterranean, Provence rosés are adored for their dry, refreshing style and delicate, pale-pink colour. A blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Tibouren gives these wines their signature dry and crisp profile, supported by notes of lychee, strawberry and herbs – all underlined by a subtle minerality. Other notable French rosés combine Grenache, Mourvédre and Shiraz, making wines with more sweetness and vivid fruit notes, such as raspberry, complemented by a distinct minerality.

The French created the most famous sparkling wine of all – Champagne. Exclusive to its namesake region, Champagne is considered the pinnacle of celebration bubbles worldwide. Made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and/or Pinot Meunier, it’s a secondary fermentation in the bottle that gives Champagne its signature effervescence and smooth texture. Champagne styles range from the very dry Brut Nature to the more lush Demi-Sec. In other regions, sparkling wine made using the same method as Champagne is called Crémant. This elegant and equally complex sparkling wine is a more affordable alternative to Champagne. Crémant is made in several regions, but the best-known is Crémant de Alsace – a creamy and floral sparkling wine.