| The wines of France are baffling to some. I hear | | | | The Rhone Valley is in southern France and was |
| this in my work as a wine salesman all the time. | | | | founded by Greek and Roman colonists more |
| Retail shop owners and restaurant managers | | | | than two thousand years ago. They were big into |
| hesitate when it comes to French wine. They | | | | wine and they established the predominant grapes |
| don't want to offer bottles that have | | | | early on. The entire region produces far more red |
| hard-to-pronounce words or require an explanation | | | | wine than white. It's hot here so the dark grapes |
| to the customer, and they don't want to appear | | | | are better suited. In the northern Rhone Syrah is |
| snooty. | | | | in charge. The red wines from the appellations of |
| There certainly are differences between French | | | | Cote Rotie, Hermitage, Cornas and Crozes |
| wine and wine made in the United States. French | | | | Hermitage are mostly 100% Syrah. A little bit of |
| wine is part of a tradition that links local wines to | | | | white wine is made from Viognier, Marsanne and |
| local foods. French wine, like all European wine is | | | | Roussanne in combination. Those white grapes |
| intended to be consumed with food. Because of | | | | may not be as familiar as others but California |
| this, French wine flavor profiles have a range that | | | | wine makers do use them. |
| goes beyond fruit and warm oaky richness to | | | | The southern Rhone is dominated by Grenache |
| include brisk acidity, more fruit tannin and that | | | | though it is most often blended with Syrah as well |
| sense of place, terroir, as the French would say, | | | | as Mourvedre and Cincault and a hand full of |
| that lends an earthy, mineral-ish slightly bitter tang. | | | | others. There are appellations in the south like |
| Then there is the fact that we are most | | | | Chateauneuf du Pape, Gigondas and Vaqueras. |
| comfortable with labels that list the grape type, | | | | These are all Grenache based red wines. The |
| and many French wines omit the grape type on | | | | majority of the Cote du Rhone wines also come |
| their labels. But, for the French, grape type is not | | | | from the southern Rhone and they are more |
| as important, the place of origin is the key. | | | | affordable for every day. The word "cote" simply |
| All the grapes that are best known to us, | | | | means the surrounding area. Remember that the |
| Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon | | | | red wines of the northern Rhone are 100% Syrah |
| Blanc, Pinot Noir, Merlot etc. are all standard | | | | and the red wines of the southern Rhone are |
| grapes in France. These grape types are the ones | | | | Grenache or blends dominated by Grenache. |
| that have made their way with most success to | | | | Alsace is a region that hugs the German border in |
| wine regions all over the world. They're known as | | | | northeastern France. It is sheltered by the Voges |
| international varietals for that reason. Wherever | | | | Mountains to the west and the Rhine River to the |
| these grapes are made into wine outside France, | | | | east so the growing season here is one of the |
| the French model is often the goal of perfection. | | | | longest and most consistent in France though it is |
| So, why not drink French wine? | | | | northerly and generally cool. All the best wines of |
| If the system of appellations (wine growing | | | | Alsace are white. Riesling is most prominent but |
| locations) and place names seem complex it may | | | | Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer are |
| be because we don't make the connection | | | | also widely used. Alsace is also the only major |
| between grape type and place. In France each | | | | French region that actually does put the grape |
| wine region is closely associated with particular | | | | type on the label. So relax and enjoy. |
| grape types and once that is made clear it's | | | | The Loire Valley runs across northern France. The |
| easier to understand French wine. | | | | Loire river flows from the south central part of |
| What's an appellation? This is a French word that | | | | France all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. It's the |
| refers to a particular agricultural production zone | | | | longest river in France and along the last half of |
| within a geographical region. There are appellations | | | | its course is the largest wine producing area. The |
| for cheese, chickens and meat products as well | | | | grape scheme is not quite as simple but its still set |
| as wine in France. They decided as a nation in the | | | | in tradition and predictable. More white wine is |
| 1930's that food and beverage products taste the | | | | produced than red because, once again this is |
| way they do partly because of the place where | | | | pretty far north and fairly cool. |
| the product is made. Since the French came up | | | | To the east, from the appellations of Sancerre, |
| with this idea every other wine producing country | | | | Pouilly, Quincy and Reuilly come very good |
| has adopted a similar system. In America we | | | | Sauvignon Blanc wines. Those first two are the |
| have AVAs, American Viticultural Areas. In France | | | | most important to remember for quality. Touraine |
| they have AOCs, Appellation d'Origin Controlee. | | | | white wine, from a village further west is also |
| AOC means a wine from a particular place is | | | | made from Sauvignon Blanc. In the middle part of |
| made in a particular way using specified grape | | | | the region Chenin Blanc takes over. Vouvrey is a |
| types, and it's controlled and guaranteed by a | | | | village name that, when it appears on labels |
| government council. In France certain grapes are | | | | means Chenin Blanc. It can be dry or very sweet |
| used by law in each region while other grapes are | | | | depending upon the style. "Sec" means dry, |
| excluded. This makes it pretty easy to identify | | | | "Demi-sec" means partly sweet and "Doux" |
| the grape type of a particular wine if you know | | | | means very sweet. To the west, where the Loire |
| where in France it comes from. The vast | | | | empties into the Atlantic ocean the white grape |
| majority of France's fine wine comes from one | | | | that dominates is called Muscadet. This wine is |
| of five regions. | | | | very dry, clean and somewhat mineral like in |
| Burgundy is a region made up of several | | | | flavor. It is a fantastic wine to have with seafood, |
| appellations in northeastern France. Some large | | | | raw oysters and such. |
| production domestic wines still use the word | | | | Two black grapes are made into red wine in the |
| "Burgundy" even though there is no similarity | | | | Loire Valley and they mostly come from the |
| between what they make and real French | | | | central part of the region. Red wine from the |
| Burgundy. You may see the word Bourgogne | | | | Loire is far more rare but Cabernet Franc and |
| (either Blanc or Rouge) on a label and that simply | | | | Pinot Noir are used to make some very good red |
| means a wine from Burgundy. There are also | | | | wines. A red Sancerre is made from Pinot Noir. |
| village wines that have the name of specific | | | | The appellations of Chinon, Bourgueil and |
| villages on their label, and Premier and Grand Cru | | | | Saumur-Champigny are noted for their Cabernet |
| wines that come from particular vineyards within | | | | Franc wines. Anjou and Anjou-Villages wines are |
| the neighborhood of a notable village. | | | | also made from Cabernet Franc. |
| Do you like Chardonnay or Pinot Noir? Well, all the | | | | All that's really left of France* is the Champagne |
| white wines of Burgundy are made entirely from | | | | region where sparkling wine is made. The grapes |
| Chardonnay and all the red wines of Burgundy are | | | | used here are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the |
| made entirely from Pinot Noir. It's that simple! The | | | | same grapes that are used in Burgundy which is a |
| individual properties in Burgundy are called | | | | next door neighbor to Champagne. The producers |
| Domaines and they are often family owned. You | | | | of Champagne are very protective of their name |
| can drink basic Bourgogne, Village level Burgundy | | | | and they don't want anyone outside that region |
| and/or Premier Cru and Grand Cru wines that | | | | calling their sparkling wine Champagne, even if |
| come from specific historical vineyards. The basics | | | | they use the same grape types and make the |
| of grape type hold up though out Burgundy; white | | | | wine in exactly the same way. A Champagne can |
| wine is Chardonnay and red wine is Pinot Noir | | | | be a "Blanc de Blanc", which means it is made |
| Bordeaux is a port city on the southwestern | | | | entirely with Chardonnay or a "Blanc de Noir", |
| Atlantic coast of France that has been a center | | | | which means it's made with Pinot Noir grapes. It |
| of wine trade since Roman times. All Bordeaux | | | | can be "Brut" which means dry, or it can be |
| red wine is made from Cabernet Sauvignon and | | | | "doux" which means it will taste sweeter. Most |
| Merlot in combination. The white wines of | | | | Champagne is blended from numerous fermented |
| Bordeaux are based upon Sauvignon Blanc, often | | | | wines, often from more than one year's harvest |
| in combination with grapes called Semillon and/or | | | | or "vintage". A vintage Champagne, made entirely |
| Muscadelle. A French person would never make a | | | | from one year's grapes is more rare and more |
| white wine from Chardonnay in Bordeaux because | | | | expensive. |
| it wouldn't be a legal Bordeaux wine. | | | | It helps us non-Europeans to know that the wines |
| To the west, closer to the Atlantic in the Medoc | | | | of Europe are made from the same grapes that |
| appellations of Bordeaux Cabernet dominates the | | | | we've come to recognize from our domestic wine |
| blends and to the east, in the right bank | | | | purchases. This is especially true of French wines. |
| appellations of St Emilion and Pomerol, Merlot | | | | There are differences. That's really what makes |
| dominates. The choice of which grape to plant | | | | wine so much fun. And there are a lot of |
| where was decided hundreds of years ago based | | | | different place names to deal with, but the |
| upon the prevailing weather conditions and soil | | | | adventure of discovering new great wines and |
| types. Individual properties are called Chateau, | | | | tasting their interaction with the foods we already |
| which means house, and many of them are | | | | like is what wine appreciation is all about. |
| today owned by large corporations that own | | | | If you like Cabernet or Merlot try a red Bordeaux. |
| more than one Chateau. There are quality levels in | | | | If you like Riesling, try an Alsatian Riesling. If you |
| Bordeaux just as there are in Burgundy. There is | | | | like Shiraz, try a Syrah from the northern Rhone. |
| basic Bordeaux AC (appellation controlee) and | | | | Have fun!note* The French, and a lot of local wine |
| Bordeaux Superieur AC and then there are the | | | | lovers would point out that I've excluded several |
| classifications of the best Chateaux into | | | | additional regions. If you start with these five and |
| categories like Cru Classe, First Cru Classe, | | | | Champagne, and grow fond of these then it will |
| Second Cru classe and Grand Cru classe. All these | | | | be natural for you to learn more about places like |
| classifications can be red or white wine. It seems | | | | the Languedoc, the Costieres d'Nimes, Jurancon |
| complicated and you can get to know them in | | | | and some of the others. Don't be afraid to try |
| time but remember the red wines are always | | | | new things and don't dismiss what you've tasted |
| Cabernet and Merlot based while the white wines | | | | once or twice too quickly. Life's too short. |
| are all Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon based. | | | | |