Quality French Wine | Low Sulphite French Red Wine

21 November 2012

French Wines

Wine making in France is a very popular process, which has helped established France as one of the highest wine producing countries in the world, producing world famous wines such as Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone and Champagne. The French have the second largest vineyard area in the world; coming second to only Spain, showing the growing and production power they have at their disposal.

France make a variety of household names when it comes to wine, ranging from different types of Red, White, Rose and Champagne wines, each with a different name dependent on their production process, type of ingredients and area of production. Grape farmers and wineries often work together, if not conjoined to help create some of the best tasting and finest french wine for you to drink from the best suppliers.

Burgundy

The region of Burgundy is located in the eastern area of France and is popular for both Red and White wine production. The wines that are most famously produced in this region are generally known as ‘Burgundies’, which are red wines made from Pinot Noir grapes, or white wines made from Chardonnay grapes. Aside from these grapes, Gamay and Aligote are also common, which increases the range of wines available that come with a Burgundy region label. Although these wines are considered the “specialty” for this region, there is still a vast range of rose and sparkling wines that are made and are available in the region, making Burgundy a spectacular place for any avid wine connoisseur.

Rhone Valley

This region is considered to be another main area for producing wine in France. The region is located in the south east, and is generally considered to be split into two areas; Northern Rhone and Southern Rhone.

Northern Rhone

The northern Rhone sub region is known to have distinct viniculture traditions to produce red wine from the Syrah grape. This grape is often blended with grapes that are used to make white wine, giving an overall wonderfully blended and tasteful wine. The northern and southern areas of Rhone differ in climate throughout the different stages of the year, which means that the grapes they can grow differ. This means the taste of the wine is altered, as grapes are grown differently, giving them often a sweeter or more sour taste.

Southern Rhone

Southern Rhone has a much more Mediterranean climate, meaning they are subject to milder winter and hotter summers. Drought can be a common problem, which can make it hard for grape farmers to produce a large amount of grapes. Techniques are often used to help combat problems to be doing with climate in its region, such as the placing of large pebbles around the base of vines, which absorbs sun in the day to keep them warm at night. The southern region of Rhone is responsible for the majority of wine made within the Rhone region.

Champagne

Everyone knows what Champagne is; the worlds most famous sparkling wine. It gets its name from the region it is produced in - Champagne. This region is situated at the northern edge of France, which is the area with the lowest average temperatures throughout the year. The grapes used to make up Champagne are; Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. The prestigious term “Champagne” is strictly reserved in the majority of countries for wine that is produced in the region. Wines are not generally allowed to call themselves Champagne unless they were produced there.

Bordeaux

The Bordeaux region is located on the Atlantic coast and is considered to be the main wine growing region of France - and the world. The vineyards of Bordeaux cover around 550,000 acres, leading to production of around 65 million gallons a year. This is around 700 million bottles a year, that come in a range of table wine, to some of the most expensive and luxurious wine in the world.

Bordeaux is generally recognised as a red wine producing region, whereby blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc are classed as popular bottles. Many others bare the name of the small villages they were produced in, meaning a huge range of locally produced wine is available everywhere you go in this region. These wines are drunk commonly throughout the entire world.

Low Sulphite French Red Wine

Low Sulphite Wines are becoming a popular choice for wine drinkers, amongst those who are sulphite intolerant, as well as those who wish to drink a ‘healthier’ wine. As you know, France is one of the world’s largest wine producers, so it is no shock that they are now producing some excellent low sulphite wines.

So there we have it - a short guide to give you an idea of some of France’s main wines which are readily available for you to drink across the entire world. Enjoy!

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21 November 2012

French Wines