France
Food, wine and spirits in France, Europe.
A brief history of Champagne
Champagne is both a region and a wine. Only sparkling wine produced in Champagne can be called Champagne. Other sparkling wine produced elsewhere in France or around the world cannot legally be called Champagne.
Champagne and other sparkling wines
In the mood for celebration? Surely you will reach for sparkling wine. Nothing says success and happiness better than a toast holding a flute of sparkling wine in your hand. And within all frizzy wines, Champagne sparkles the most.
Wine in France
France is the country to beat in the wine producing world, an indisputable leader with global influence. Other lands have advanced great lengths and some are coming close to certain French wines, but no other has the climate and terrain to produce such an impressive and varied selection of great wines.
Wine in France, Rhone Valley
This is a long narrow wine area that can be divided into the north where the wine is dominated by Syrah (Shiraz) and the south where Grenache dominates. The south often represents better value and the wines can be fruitier. The Rhone Valley is responsible for about 9% of the wine produced in France.
Wine in France, Provence
In the triangle formed near the Mediterranean coast by Nice in the east, Marseille in the west and Avignon to the northwest, lies the region of Provence.
Wine in France, Loire Valley
The Loire Valley, near Nantes in western France, is one of the most beautiful winemaking areas in Europe. A narrow, but wide region following the Loire river, it meanders from Auvergne and the Massif Central mountains to the Atlantic coast.
Wine in France, Languedoc - Roussillon
Languedoc-Roussillon, the largest wine producing region in the world, lies on the border of the Mediterranean sea, between the Rhone delta and Spain.
Wine in France, Champagne
Champagne is not just a sparkling wine, but the region from which the famous drink derives its name. The climate of the area is cooler than that of the southern French vineyards, making for a shorter growing season.
Wine in France, Burgundy
Nowhere in France is the terroir concept — a group of vineyards (or vines) from the same region that share similar soil and climate — more dearly held than Burgundy.
Wine in France, Bordeaux
Bordeaux. The word itself says 'wine' to millions around the world. Many historians of the subject assure us that wine has been produced in Bordeaux since the first century AD. And given the known ability for the great Bordeaux to age gracefully, one can believe it.