WINES

OF
FRANCE
-Jerson Fernandes
Accor Management Trainee-Culinary
 Introduction
• France has always been considered the heart land of
the wines of the World. It has traditionally been know
as the best Wine producing Region of the world.

• France is also the largest wine producing country of

the world
 Wine laws of France
• The Wine laws in France are controlled by INAO
( Institue Nationale des Appellation d’ Origine )

• Classification of the Wines:

AOC- Appellation d’ Origine Controlee 1935
– This classification is given to the best wines of France
– The government guarantees the place ( district or a Chateau ),
name, grape of the Wine, and that it has been made according
to the growing and making standards specified by the
Government.
 Wine laws of France
VDQS – Vin de limite de Qualite Superior
– Better Quality of wine from a specific region. Taste tests
were introduced to determine the quality of the Wine.

VIN DE PAYS
– Country Wines, guarantees that wine comes from the
specified area, from the permitted grape, but gives the wine
maker the freedom to make the wine as he sees fit

VIN DE TABLE
– These are ordinary table Wines, made with some degree of
quality and could be a Blend of other wines.
 Alsace
Champagne

Loire

Burgundy

Rhone
 Wine regions of France
• Bordeaux
• Burgundy
• Cotes du Rhone
• Loire Valley
• Alsace
• Champagne
BORDEAUX
 BORDEAUX
• Bordeaux is the Largest Wine producing region of
France

• The river GIRANDE flows through Bordeaux, its 2

estuaries GARONNE & DORDOGNE are
responsible for the Terrior of this region

• 80% of the Wines produced in Bordeaux are

Red.
 BORDEAUX
CLIMATE & SOIL
• Bordeaux has Mild winters and Warm summers. The
soil is mainly pebbly, not very fertile but very rich in
minerals.
GRAPES
• Red – Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot,
Malbec & Petit Verdot
• White – Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc

• Bordeaux Red wines are usually delicate, Light

bodied, mostly Dry. They are popularly know as
CLARETS.
 BORDEAUX
• WHAT MAKES GREAT BORDEAUX
REDS
– Soil
– Good grape variety
– Right balance of sugar and acid
– Careful vinification, fermentation temperature and wines
used for blending
– Bottling at the right time ( 18 – 24 months after
fermentation )
 BORDEAUX
Main Wine producing districts of Burgundy :

• Medoc
– Haut Medoc
– Bas Medoc
• Graves
• Sauternes
• St. Emilion
• Pomerol
 Alsace
Champagne

Loire

Burgundy

Rhone
Bas Medoc

Haut Medoc

Pomerol

Graves
Sauternes
 Districts of Bordeaux
MEDOC
• Medoc Reds are medium bodied wines, they require
longer maturation because they are higher in tannins.
• Medoc is divided into 2 Sub- Districts:
– Haut Medoc and Bas Medoc

• Haut Medoc produce better wines. Some quality

Chateau’s
– Margaux
– Paulliac
– St. Julien
– St. Estephe.
 Districts of Bordeaux
• In 1855 Medoc was divided into 70 best properties or
Chateau. Some of the best Chateau’s of Medoc are :

– Chateau Lafit Rothschild Pauillac

– Chateau Latour Pauillac
– Chateau Margaux Margaux
– Chateau Mouton Rothschild ( 1973 ) Pauillac
 Districts of Bordeaux
GRAVES
• Graves soil is predominantly GRAVEL.

• Graves produces good quality Dry White wines and

Excellent light Red wines.

• Premier / Grand Cru – Chateau Haut Brion

• The Grave White range from Sweet to Extremely Dry.

Some of the grave wines are labeled as Superior, this
just means that they have higher alcoholic %.
 Districts of Bordeaux
SAUTERNES
• This region is very famous for its Sweet white wines.
The grape used for production is SEMILLON.
• The most famous wine from this region is Chateau
d’yquem.

St. EMILION
• This region only produces Red wine. The grape used
for production is MERLOT.
• The quality of wine produced is re-assessed every 10
yrs.
 Districts of Bordeaux
POMEROL
• Mainly produces Red wines.
• The wines are more tannic in nature and have to be
aged longer.
• The wines are more robust and full bodied and are
sometimes referred to as Burgundies of
Bordeaux.
• The main grape used for production is MERLOT &
CABERNET FRANC.
• Produces the most expensive wine of the world in
good vintage year from CHATEAU PETRUS.
 BORDEAUX
• Some Great wines of Bordeaux are :

– Chateau Haut-Brion Graves

– Chateau Lafit Rothschild Pauillac
– Chateau Latour Pauillac
– Chateau Margaux Margaux
– Chateau Mouton Rothschild ( 1973 ) Pauillac
– Chateau D’ Yquem Sauternes
– Chateau Petrus Pomerol
– Chateau Cheval Blanc St. Emilion
– Chateau Ausone St. Emilion
BURGUNDY
 BURGUNDY
• Burgundy is a narrow strip of Land along the river
SAONE. This region is about 75 miles long in the
Middle of Eastern France.

• Burgundy Reds are very Robust and Full bodied and the
Whites are refined and distinguished. The White wine
are mostly Dry.

• The Main Grape Varieties :

– Red Grapes : Pinot Noir ( Cote d’ Or and Chalonnais )
Gamay ( Maconnais and Beaujolais )
– White Grapes : Chardonnay ( Chablis and Maconnais )
Aligote
 BURGUNDY
Climate :
• The Region has very harsh, severe and mild winters. The
summers are sometimes very hot and sometimes
unpredictable.

• In Burgundy the Grapes are picked before they have ripened

because of the severe winters. This results in Grapes being
higher in Acid and less Sugar content.

• The resulting Grape juice from these grapes lacks the desired
sugar content. To increase the sugar levels in the juice
CHAPTALISATION is done. ( Chaptalisation is the
addition of sugar to Grape juice).
 BURGUNDY
Main Wine producing regions of Burgundy :

• Cote d’ Or
• Chalonnaise
• Maconnais
• Beaujolais
• Chablis
 Alsace
Champagne

Loire

Burgundy

Rhone
 Chablis

Nuit

Chalon

Beaujolais
 Districts of Burgundy
COTE D’ OR

• Literally translated Cote d’ Or means Golden Hills.

It produces good quality Red and White wines.

• Grapes used for the production of Wines:

– Red Wines – Pinot Noir
– White Wines - Chardonnay
 Districts of Burgundy
COTE D’ OR
It is further divided into two regions :
• Cote de Nuits
– This region has Chalk and clay as soil composition. This
region is better know for its Red wines.
– Gevery Chambertain, Musigny, Vougeot, Romanee-
conti.
• Cote de Beaune
– This region has Clay, Chalk and Marl as soil composition.
This region produces good quality White wines.
– Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet
 Districts of Burgundy
CHALONNAISE
• This region produces a range of Red, White and
Sparkling Wines.
• Grapes used for the production of Wines :
– Red Wines – Pinot Noir and Gamay
– White Wines – Chardonnay & Aligote
• This region produces fragrant full bodied Red wines
and crisp white wines.

• Better known wines of this region are:

– Givery, Mercury, Rully, Bouzeron & Montagny.
 Districts of Burgundy
MACONNAIS
• The most famous wine from is region is Pouilly
Fuisse, one of the Worlds best Chardonnay Whites.

• Grapes used for the production of Wines:

– Red Wines – Gamay
– White Wines – Chardonnay

• Some of the better known wines of the region are:

– Macon, Pouilly Fuisse, Pouilly Vinzelle and St. Veran.
 Districts of Burgundy
BEAUJOLAIS
• Grapes used for the production of Wines:
– Red Wines – Gamay
– White Wines – Chardonnay

• The fermentation in this region is done through CARBONIC

MACERATION ( fermentation is done without the pressing
of Grapes ). This results in wines being fresh and fruity. The
BEAJOULAISE NOUVEAU is made by this method. These
wines have lesser shelf life and are best had chilled.

• The wines from this region are light, fresh and delicate and
are sometimes called the Bordeaux’s of Burgundy.
 Districts of Burgundy
BEAUJOLAIS
• Beaujolais “Cru” Villages:
• These are the best know villages and produce the best wines
in the region.
– Bouilly
– Cote de Bouilly
– Chenas
– Chirobule
– Fleurie
– Julienas
– Moulin a vent
– St. Amour
– Morgon
 Districts of Burgundy
CHABLIS
• One of the Worlds best white wine producing
region. The White wines are of great quality and
finesse.

• This region uses CHARDONNAY. Nowhere else in

the world does Chardonnay achieve such greatness.
Chardonnay produces very dry wines.

• The soil type is mainly Limestone and Chalk.

 Districts of Burgundy
CHABLIS
• The Appellation divides Chablis into Four categories:

– Chablis Grand Cru – It consists of 7 Climats, which produce the

best wines in this region.
– Chablis Premier Cru – These are fine wines and take their names
from 27 villages.
– AC Chablis – The basic appellation and the best of the rest of the
wines. These wines are good value for money.
– Petit Chablis – Harvested from an area which is entitled for this
classification. These wines should be consumed as young and fresh as
possible.

– Some well know Grand Cru wines :

Les Clos, Le Pruese, Blanchots, Bougros.
 COTE
DU
RHONE
 Alsace
Champagne

Loire

Burgundy

Rhone
 Cote du Rhone
• The region is situated around the River Rhone. This is
one of the Oldest wine producing region of France.

• This region produces the best Rose wines of France

TAVEL & LIRAC. This region also produces the
World Famous Chateauneuf du pape.

• The climate of this region is warm and steady, thus,

resulting in consistent wines. The wines have stability
and good keeping quality, they have distinctive
character and favour.
 Cote du Rhone
Northern Rhone
• The soil in this region is predominantly GRANITE.

• Grapes used are:

– Red Wines – Syrah
– White Wines - Voigner

• Better known wines of this region are:

– Hermitage & Cote Roti ( Red & White )
– Condrieu ( W )
– Chateau Grillet ( W )
 Cote du Rhone
Southern Rhone
• The soil in this region is predominantly CHALK

• Grapes used are :

– Red Wines – Grenache
– White Wines – Ugni Blanc & Clairette

• Better know wines of this region are:

– Chateau neuf du pape ( Popes new house )
– Cote du Rhone
– Tavel & Lirac
– This region also produces a very good sweet wine called
MUSCAT DE BEAUME DE VENICE
 LOIRE
VALLEY
 Alsace
Champagne

Loire

Burgundy

Rhone
 Loire valley
• This region is situated on the most Majestic river of
France.
• The region produces Crisp White wines, Golden Sweet
dessert wines and some fine Sparkling wines. This
region is also well known for its fine Rose wines.
• Grapes used for making wines:
– Red Wines – Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Franc
– White Wines – Muscadella
Chenin Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc
 Loire valley
Districts of Loire :

NANTES

• The grape used in this district is MUSCADELLA. It

produces a fine wine called MUCADET it is a very
light acidic White wine.
 Loire valley
ANJOU – SAUMUR

• The grape used in this district is Chenin Blanc and

Cabernet Franc. It produces good quality Red, White,
Rose and Sparkling wines.

• Anjou is famous for Red, White, Rose and Sparkling

wines.

• Saumur is famous for dry and sweet Red, White, Rose

and Sparkling wines.
 Loire valley
TOURAINE
• The better known wines from this region are
VOUVRAY ( Dry and Sweet White Wines ) &
CHINON.
• This region also produce a well known sparkling wine
called VOUVRAY MOUSSEAUX ( This wine is made
by Method Champanoise )

CENTRAL VINEYARDS
• The grape used for the production of wines is
SAUVIGNON BLANC. This region produces the
world famous Dry White wines POUILLY FUME &
SANCERRE.
ALSACE
 Alsace
Champagne

Loire

Burgundy

Rhone
 Alsace
• This wine region of France borders Germany, because
of which most of the Wines are very close to the wines
of Germany. This region is situated on the VOSGES
MOUNTAINS and is separated from BADEN by
River Rhine.

• The region has hot summers and Cold winter. The

Autumn is Dry, Sunny and long.
 Alsace
Main Grape variety:
White wines : Gewurztraminer ( Gewurz means SPICY )
Pinot Blanc
Muscat d’ Alsace
Tokay d’ Alsace
Riesling
Sylvaner

• The region is popular for Sweet White wines. The wine

is bottled in tall bottles called “ Flute d’ Alsace “
CHAMPAGNE
 Alsace
Champagne

Loire

Burgundy

Rhone
 Champagne
• This region is to the North of France.

• Champagne produces the best sparkling wine of the

world

• The name CHAMPAGNE and METHODE

CHAMPENOISE are protected by law and can only
apply to the wines made in the region of Champagne

• This applies to all countries without exception

 Champagne
• The vineyards of Champagne are divided into
three main districts :
– Montagne de Reims ( The Reims mountains )

– Vallee de la Marne ( The Marne valley )

– Cote des blancs ( The white hills )

 Champagne
Main Grape variety:

• Montagne de Reims ( The Reims mountains )

– PINOT NOIR

• Vallee de la Marne ( The Marne valley )

– PINOT NOIR & PINOT MEUNIER

• Cote des blancs ( The white hills )

– CHARDONNAY
 Champagne
Types of Champagne :

• BLANC DE BLANC ( White wine from white grapes )

• Chardonnay

• BLANC DE NOIR ( White wine from black grapes )

• Pinot Meunier
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