Wines of France

France produces one fourth of the total wine produced in the world and has an area of 3,000,000 acres for wine production. France has unending list and range of wines – dry red table wines of Bordeaux, Burgundy and the beefy reds from Rhone, zesty reds from Beaujolais, light fragrant whites from Loire, dry whites from Burgundy etc.

The latitude of France is ideal for wine production. The climate varies from cold and northerly (Alsace and Champagne), to marginal Atlantic (Bordeaux), to blisteringly hot (the south).

WINE LAWS OF FRANCE

There are certain standards and regulations laid down for each area. District or regions are classified by Appellation Controlee system (AC) set up under France law. The controls are organized by or governed by the Institut National Des Appellations d’Origine (INAO). The AC is a guarantee of origin of wines in the following manners:-

  • An exactly defined growing area
  • The type and blend of grape varieties used
  • Care of vineyard and grafting
  • Maximum harvest per acre
  • Minimum alcoholic content
  • Wine production and storage methods
  • Official tasting, final grading of wine.

There are five grades given to wines in France, given below:-

  1. AOC (APPELLATION D’ORIGIN CONTROLEE)
  • Only 25% of France wines get AOC certificate
  • Bordeaux AOC means the wine is produced in Bordeaux region of France (same to other regions such as Medoc AOC, St. Julien AOC etc.)
  • A more specific wine name better wine is.
  1. VDQS (VINS DELIMITES DE QUALITE SUPERIEURE)
  • A grade down from AOC, introduced in 1949.
  • This grade denotes high quality from a limited growing area, grape variety, minimum alcoholic content, cultivation and wine production.
  1. VIN DE PAYS (MEANS COUNTRY WINES)
  • It has birth certificates of wines
  • It carries reference to geographical area for e.g. Vin de Pays Chablis).
  1. VIN DE TABLE (MEANS WINE OF TABLE)
  • Meant for everyday use
  • Does not improve with age
  • Wines are expensive sometimes
  1. VO (VIN ORDINAIRE)
  • Its price depend on its strength
  • Almost always red wines fall in this grade.

 

WINE REGIONS OF FRANCE

There are 35 regions in France, wine regions happen to be 6 major districts only:-