FRENCH WINE

Appellation/Region

1. Alsace

Located on the Eastern border of France with Germany

Germanic influence, so the grapes are primary white

Soils: Very varied such as granite, limestone, schist, gravel, chalk, loess and pink
sandstone so Alsace’s wine is diverse.

Climate: semi-continental, long dry and sunny season, so Alsace’s grape have a
good level of ripness. Winters are cold, abundant snowfall on the Vosges Mt.. Out
of the Alsatian plains, snow is less but more mist and fog, the nights in Alsace
give the grapes high levels of refreshing acidity

Notable region for

Riesling: A dry style of Riesling that is quite refreshing as it is haunting with

its sometimes smoky aromas

Pinot Gris: A sweeter style of Pinot Gris that explodes with apricots, limes,
and honeyed richness.

Gewürztraminer: One of the most aromatic wines on the planet with notes of
rose water, lychee, and perfume. Wines are richer in style, taste just off-dry
(although most are dry) and are best enjoyed within a year or two of release.

Sparkling Alsace: Crémant d’Alsace is made in 2 styles, a white made with

mostly Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc which gives it a sweetish apricot kick and a
rosé style made with 100% Pinot Noir that offers raspberry and cherry notes
with creamy bubble finesse.
2. Champagne
Located in the north eastern part of France.
Best known for the production of the sparkling white wine that bears the region's
name
Soils: Limestone, Chalk. Make a particular mineral flavor for Champagne Wine
and create the balance of ripness, acidity and berry aroma.
Climate: Dual climate: oceanic and continental influences alike. This means
Champagne has low level of sunshine, giving the grapes the freshness and
crispness while steady and moderate rainfaill is essential for quality grape
production.
Notable region for
Chardonay: offer apple, lemon, and beeswax notes with crisp acidity and
creamy bubbles. Made Sparkling Blanc de Blancs
Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier: produce wines with more body and notes of
white cherry, mushroom, lemon, and raspberry. Made Sparkling Blanc de
Noirs
3. Loire Valley
Located in the north-west region of France
The Loire Valley is often divided into three sections Upper Loire (Centre), Middle
Loire (Anjou, Saumur, and Touraine) and Lower Loire (The Pays Nantais)
Soils:
Lower Loire: predominantly volcanic (igneous), top-soils of porous gneiss.
Middle Loire: Varied. Slate, schist and clay (Anjou), Limestone (Saumur), chalk,
sand, gravel, clay and limestone pebbles (Touraine).
Upper Loire: Terre Blanche (a mix of clay, Kimmeridgian limestone, and oyster
shells). Caillotes (small pebbles of Oxfordian limestone and yields wines with
delicate perfume and less structure than Terre Blanche). Silex or flint, lends a
smoky, gunflint quality to the grapes.
Climate:
 Lower Loire: climate is maritime with cold, damp, stormy winters, cool cloudy
springs, warm humid summers, and often blustery falls.
Middle Loire: The seasons are more defined and the climate is more hospitable.
Upper Loire: semi-continental with big differences in the daytime and nighttime
temperatures (the diurnal swing).
Notable region for

Sauvignon Blanc: A lean and herbal style of Sauvignon Blanc with flavors of
thyme, lime peel, honeydew melon, and grass.

Chenin Blanc: In the middle Loire Valley is where you’ll find awesome
Chenin Blanc wines that range in style from dry to sweet and still to sparkling.
Flavors range from delicate notes of flowers and apricots, rich applesauce.

Muscadet (white): The perfect white for shellfish, clams, and mussels hailing
from the western maritime region of Nantes in the Loire. Wines are bone-dry
with subtle notes of sea shell, lime, green apple, and pear skin.

Cabernet Franc: A very herbaceous and rustic style of Cabernet Franc with
spicy notes of bell pepper, tart red cherry, and gravelly minerality.

4. Burgundy (Bourgogne)

Located in the eastern half and is southwest of Alsace

The most famous wines produced here - those commonly referred to as

"Burgundies"

Soils: Limestone, Marl, mixing Sand or Gravel. Limestone is good for white
wines while Marl is good for red wines.
Climate: fairly warm summers, with the constant threat of hail, and cold winters
Notable region for
 Pinot Noir: rustic and bold style of Pinot Noir with notes of cranberry, hibiscus,
rose hip, and a dusting of earthy herbs.
Oaked Chardonnay The origin place of Chardonnay
Unoaked Chardonnay notes of quince, starfruit and sometimes passion fruit

5. Beaujolais
Located in the southern of Burgundy
Famous for Gamy grape which is low in tannins but high level of acidity
Soils: mostly granite and schist (decomposed rock) to the North and clay-based
soils (marl) to the South
Climate: Closer to Northern Rhône, continental climate with hot summer, cold
winter and rain throughout the year.
Notable region for
Gamay: offers seductive aromas of plum, cherry, violet, peony and tropical
banana. Others is forest floor, baker’s yeast or bubblegum

6. Rhône Valley
Located in the Southeast region of France
The Rhône is generally divided into two sub-regions with distinct vinicultural
traditions, the Northern Rhône and the Southern Rhône
Soils: granite, sandy silica, limestone and clay
Climate:
Norther Rhone: Continental climate with hot summer, cold winter and rain
throughout the year.
Southern Rhone: The summers are long and warm and the winters are mild;
rainfall is less than in the north and the famous Mistral Wind is a major player
Notable region for
Syrah: offers a much more savory profile with notes of black olive, plum,
and dried green herbs
 Grenache-Syrah Blend: exude ripe raspberry, plum and dried lavender with a
smoky overtone
Marsanne Blend (white) bolder white is the gestalt of fine Chardonnay with
notes of lemon, beeswax, and apricot.
7. Bordeaux
A port city in south - western France
Famous for the best quality of wine
Soils: Left bank gravel. Right bank clay and limestone
Climate: damp springtimes, rather hot, fairly dry summers, rather mild winters,
and quite a bit of rain during autumn and winter.
Notable region for
Left Bank Red Bordeaux: A bold, dry red using Cabernet Sauvignon and
Merlot in the blend, with flavors of black currant, graphic, mint, and gravelly-
tobacco notes.
Right Bank Red Bordeaux: A slightly softer, rustic red made with mostly
Merlot and Cabernet Franc, with flavors of black cherry, tobacco, and mint.
White Bordeaux: Less the 10% of the region’s production is dedicated
to White Bordeaux which is a zippy blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.
Wines offer up pink grapefruit, green melon, and beeswax notes.
Sauternais (sweet whites): An intensely sweet white.

8. South – West France

9. Provence
10. Languedoc-Roussillon
11. Corsica
http://www.dummies.com/food-drink/drinks/wine/frances-alsace-wine-region/

http://winefolly.com/review/french-wine-exploration-map/

https://www.champagne.fr/en/terroir-appellation/champagne-terroir/champagne-terroir-
definition

http://winefolly.com/review/loire-valley-wine-guide/

http://www.dummies.com/food-drink/drinks/wine/frances-burgundy-wine-region/

http://winefolly.com/review/cotes-du-rhone-wine-with-maps/

http://winefolly.com/review/beaujolais-wine-region-map/

http://www.rhone-wines.com/en/identite-histoire

http://winefolly.com/review/introduction-soil-types-wine/