Beaujolais is located at the southern end of Burgundy, France. It produces more than three-quarters of the world’s Gamay wine. During the past number of years Beaujolais has improved beyond just producing Beaujolais Nouveau, fruity wines made specifically for early consumption, to now include high-quality yet affordable red wines.
Beaujolais Classifications
Beaujolais Nouveau
It continues to be the most recognizable type of Beaujolais. It is bottled and appears on store shelves just a few weeks after being harvested. The phenomenon was started by vineyard workers as a way to celebrate the end of harvest. Gradually the wine began appearing in local cafés and eventually even in Paris. Today, tens of millions of bottles of Beaujolais Nouveau are distributed to more than 100 countries in time for its official release date of the third Thursday of November.
Beaujolais Nouveau is young and simple with a very low tannin content and high acidity.
Beaujolais AOC
This is the most basic level of Beaujolais. Wines are light bodied, with plenty of fresh fruit flavours. The majority of wine produced in this appellation is sold as Beaujolais Nouveau.
Beaujolais Villages AOC
There are 38 designated villages in the region that can make Beaujolais Villages wines. The majority are red wine but there are also small amounts of white and rosé wines. Producers have the option of adding the name of the village to the label if the grapes come solely from a specific location, but most of the wines that fit the criteria are destined to be classified as Cru Beaujolais, leaving the villages themselves with little name recognition.
Beaujolais Villages wines are smooth and balanced, with ripe red and black fruit flavours.
Cru Beaujolais
Crus Beaujolais offer wine with unique character and history. Though highly regarded, wines from this quality level only account for 15 percent of the region’s total production.
Beaujolais wines are available in a variety of body types, depending on the cru from which they come.
Light and Perfumed
Brouilly: The largest cru totaling 20 percent of the Beaujolais Cru area.
Chiroubles: Home to vineyards located in the region’s highest altitudes.
Elegant and Medium-Bodied
Fleurie: The most widely exported to Canada and the United States and a good vintage that is age-worthy up to 10 years.
Saint-Amour: The most northerly cru which is known for its spicy character and ability to be aged up to 10 years in a good vintage.
Côte de Brouilly: Sits within the Brouilly cru, with vineyards on higher slopes of the extinct Mont Brouilly volcano.
Rich and Full-Bodied
Juliénas: Named after Julius Caesar and said to be one of the first wine producing areas of Beaujolais, dating back more than 2,000 years.
Régnié: It is the newest cru, being recognized in 1988.
Chénas: The smallest cru in Beaujolais (under one square mile of vineyards).
Morgon: Earthy wines with a deep and rich Burgundian character that can age up to 20 years.
Moulin-à-Vent: The most likely cru to use oak witch adds tannins and structure. Wines from this cru are the boldest in the region. In good vintages they can age up to 20 years.
Beaujolais Food Pairings
Beaujolais pairs well with traditional French foods such as Brie or Camembert cheese, or with a rich pâté. Given its low level of tannins, Beaujolais is also a great partner to lighter fare like grain salads or white fish.
Medium-bodied Beaujolais will pair well with a barbecued burger or a veggie-loaded pizza.
The Champagne region is located 145 kilometres northeast of Paris and is one of the world’s most northerly fine-wine regions. It is generally divided into three parts – the Montagne de Reims, the Vallée de la Marne and the Côte des Blancs.
The region contains 75,000 acres of vineyards. It’s interesting to note that most and the greatest vineyards of Champagne are not owned by great landowners but by thousands of growers, often working part-time.
The vineyards are situated on deep chalk soils, part of the same great basin that forms the famous white cliffs of Dover in southern England. The chalk serves as a natural moisture regulator, providing good drainage and reflects the sunlight and its heat.
Regulations dictate which of the three permitted grapes may be planted where.
The slopes of the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Blancs provide the best vineyards. The greatest concentration of villages designated as Grand and Premier Cru are found in these two areas.
The Montagne de Reims is planted mainly with Pinot Noir. The Montagne is a forested plateau south of Reims. Its wines give the great champagnes their backbone – their weight and richness.
Along both banks of the River Marne is the Vallée de la Marne. This zone produces the fullest, ripest wines, predominately from Pinot Meunier, and to a lesser extent Pinot Noir grapes.
Extending south from Epernay for about 21 km. is the Côte des Blancs. This area produces fine Chardonnay that give freshness to the blend and provides the sparkle to the wine.
The Côte de Sézanne is a relatively new region. It is planted almost exclusively with Chardonnay.
The classification system in Champagne is based by vineyard and is established by the Comité Interprofessional du Vin de Champagne (C.I.V.C.). The land is given a grade based on its suitability for growing white grapes or black grapes. A grade of 100% percent has been given to the 17 Grand Cru villages. The 38 Premier Cru villages have grades from 90 to 99%. The rest have a grade ranging from 80 to 89%. Champagne houses use the average percentage rating of the grapes used in their blends to establish the quality of their raw materials.
The Wine
The richness of champagne wines is largely due to the cold climate of northern France. The bubbles in champagne are a natural phenomenon.
Three grape varieties are used to make Champagne — Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Pinot Meunier is the most prevalent, making up about 40% of grape production. It is easier to grow and is less prone to frost damage. Pinot Meunier makes up the base wine for all but the very finest champagnes.
Pinot Noir makes up about 35% of the blend. It is responsible for the depth of fruit and longevity of the wine.
Chardonnay accounts for the remaining 25% and adds lightness and elegance to the blend.
The lack color in most champagne is the result of a gentle pressing, so as to extract the juice but not the color of the dark grape skins.
The main difference between the various Champagne brands or houses, is in the making of the cuvéee, or the blend. A house builds a reputation based on the particular style of blend of its non-vintage wines. So each year the wine must be consistent. The large houses store millions of gallons of wine from various vineyards and grapes for blending purposes. As a result, once you find a house style you like, it will be available year after year as long as that house exists.
In especially good years, some vintage champagne is produced. Some feel that the extra depth in taste is well worth the extra cost of these wines. Eighty percent of the contents of vintage champagne must contain grapes from the declared year.
Champagnes are labeled based on their sugar content; Extra Brut, Brut Sauvage, Ultra Brut, Brut Intégral or Brut Zéro. These wines are bone dry with less than 0.6% of residual sugar per litre. This wine is rarely made.
Brut
This is the most popular style of champagne. The best blends are always reserved for the brut and is the mainstay of the business. It has less than 1.5% residual sugar and is very dry.
Extra Dry, Extra Sec
Sweetened with 1.2 to 2% residual sugar per litre, it is still dry and goes well with desserts .
Sec
Although it means “dry” in French, it means “moderately dry” or “slightly sweet” as it pertains to champagne. It has 1.7 to 3.5% residual sugar per litre.
Demi-Sec
This style is distinctly sweet or medium. It contains between 3.3 to 5% residual sugar per litre.
Doux
This is the sweetest style of champagne. It is very sweet and is more of a dessert-style wine. It has a minimum of 5% residual sugar per litre.
Blanc de Noirs
Occasionally you will find Blanc de Noirs. This style is made entirely from black grapes but is white. It offers a wine that is fuller than those with Chardonnay in the blend.
Blanc de Blancs
This wine is made exclusively from the Chardonnay grape and is the most delicate of champagnes. Since only 25% of Champagne is planted with Chardonnay grapes, it is generally a more expensive option.
Final Thoughts
COVID-19 is having a devastating impact on Champagne’s economy. With weddings and other celebratory events being cancelled or postponed all around the world there has been a massive reduction in demand for the famous bubbly.
However, keep in mind that Champagne is not just for toasting and celebrations; it is much more versatile. Brut pairs well with fish and seafood, or moderately spiced Asian cuisine. The sweeter varieties make an excellent choice to serve with desserts, such as fresh berries. Champagne can also be served on its own as a pre-dinner drink or for no particular reason at all.
Now may be a good time to discover/rediscover Champagne. Prices may never be better and you could develop a new appreciation for this magical bubbly.
The Loire Valley is referred to as “the garden of France”. It is as famous for its castles as it is for its wines. This picturesque place is the home of Sauvignon Blanc, and it’s from here that the grape has spread around the world.
In addition to Sauvignon Blanc there are refreshing rosés, reds that favour fruit over force, and sumptuous sweet and sparkling wines that even rival the neighbouring region of Champagne. There are a high proportion of small-scale winemakers devoted to farming organically and an expanding list of excellent winemakers.
The Loire Valley begins not too far west of Paris, and extends all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. It is a cool-climate region, which means that the reds tend to be on the lighter side and lower in alcohol. While regions like Burgundy, Bordeaux, and Alsace have long been renowned for their Grand Cru sites, the Loire Valley has been considered to be much more humble. However, in the 1990’s younger producers began stepping up quality, converting their vineyards to organic and devoting themselves to discovering the potential of their land. The result is super-tasty wine that’s far more affordable than France’s more famed regions.
There is a wonderful food food-friendly nature to the wines, as well as a modest price tag on most bottles.
Here is a quick rundown on some of the appellations.
SANCERRE / POUILLY-FUMÉ / MENETOU-SALON / QUINCY
Main grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir
One of the more famous of the Loire appellations is Sancerre, which is known for its elegant and expensive Sauvignon Blanc wines. The neighbouring appellations of Pouilly-Fumé and Menetou-Salon also provide wonderful Sauvignons but often at a much more affordable price.
There is a small amount of Pinot Noir grown in these appellations, and it has a wonderful, light quality with notes of crushed strawberries and soft tannins.
CHEVERNY / COUR-CHEVERNY
Main grapes: Romorantin, Gamay, Sauvignon Blanc
Odds are that none of us will ever come across a bottle of wine from these two small appellations without travelling to the region. But if you do ever have the opportunity to taste a Cour-Cheverny wine, I have heard that it is a wonderful experience.
The wine consists of the incredible rare, ancestral variety Romorantin grape. Only about 60 hectares are left in France. Romorantin carries aromas of white peaches and honeysuckle, yet delivers a refreshing tartness.
There are also great red and white blends and rosés from Cheverny that are affordable and pair well with food.
TOURAINE
Main grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, Gamay, Pineau d’Aunis, Côt, Menu Pineau
Along with Romorantin, the ancestral Pineau d’Aunis grape is one to look for from the Loire Valley. There are about 400 hectares left in France and it produces light, peppery reds and delicious berry-hued rosés.
Overall, Touraine offers great value. Its Gamay wines are very good, with just a hint of tannins.
VOUVRAY
Main grape: Chenin Blanc
Vouvray is where Chenin Blanc is grown. Vouvray is perhaps as well-known as Sancerre, although its wines haven’t yet become as expensive. In Vouvray, only Chenin Blanc is produced, and it delivers a special minerality. There are also some delicious sparkling crémant wines made of Chenin Blanc in Vouvray.
In Anjou, a much larger neighbouring appellation, the Chenin Blanc tend to be smoky and mineral but also somewhat full-bodied. The whites are usually 100 percent Chenin, but some have a small portion of Sauvignon blended in.
Red wines from Anjou are nicely balanced, with just enough roundness to complement the minerality. If you are a fan of sweet wines, the Coteaux du Layon appellation, located within Anjou produces a late-harvest wine made from Chenin.
SAVENNIÈRES
Main grape: Chenin Blanc
This tiny appellation produces only Chenin Blanc grapes. It’s a highly regarded area whose wines tend to age very well.
CHINON / BOURGEUIL / SAUMUR / SAUMUR CHAMPIGNY
Main grapes: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc
Cabernet Franc is a beautiful, elegant, and sometimes powerful red grape that defines these neighboring appellations. The style here is to not let oak overpower the wine. There are light and fresh Cabernet Franc that’s perfect to toss in the fridge and then sip on the patio or pair with pizza, as well as serious, aged Cabernet Franc that deserves a decanter and contemplation.
MUSCADET
Main grape: Melon de Bourgogne
The unique white variety known as Melon de Bourgogne is mainly found in this coastal region. “Muscadet” is a nickname that developed to refer specifically to this white wine from this region. It is always dry, floral, easy to drink, and well-priced. It pairs well with oysters, seafood, or linguini with clams.
Final Thoughts
Personally, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, I was investigating opportunities to take a river cruise through the Loire Valley and experience the region firsthand. Hopefully, once life returns to “normal” I will get to visit one day.
Although the Rhône region produces white wines, it is better known for its reds. The wines of the Rhône will satisfy all tastes and budgets, whether you are looking for easy-to-enjoy, immediately accessible wines or cellar worthy, collectible wines. As I have mentioned in the past, my favourite French wines are produced in the Rhône.
The wines are divided into four levels of quality:
Côtes du Rhône AOC
The Côtes du Rhône appellation was established in 1937, and its wines are among the most popular in all of France. It accounts for 50% of the valley’s production and is considered as the ‘entry level’ classification. Most are red blends based on Grenache or Syrah and the vineyards are planted on a variety of different soils. Production rules are not as strict as other levels but wines must have a minimum of 11% alcohol and be made from the 21 sanctioned grape varieties.
These wines are easy drinking, and pair well with a variety of different foods so are perfect for every day. The white blends and rosés are equally delicious but may be harder to find.
Côtes du Rhône Villages AOC
The Côtes du Rhône-Villages appellation was created in 1966 and represents the next tier on the quality ladder. Wines from here have more body and a spiced red-fruit character.
The village wines are a bit more complex with lower yields and slightly higher alcohol. These wines are great for aging.
Côtes du Rhône (named) Villages AOC
Twenty-one villages are allowed to indicate their village name on the label. In order to include the village name, the winery must comply with stricter requirements than for the Côtes du Rhône Villages. Those villages are:
Chusclan
Gadagne
Laudun
Massif d’Uchaux
Plan de Dieu
Puyméras
Roaix
Rochegude
Rousset-les-Vignes
Sablet
Sainte-Cécile
Saint-Gervais
Séguret
Sinargues
St-Maurice-sur-Eygues
St-Pantaléon-les-Vignes
Suze-la-Rousse
Vaison la Romaine
Valréas
Vinsobres
Visan
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the most famous Rhône region and one of the oldest in France. It was established in 1936, but its official boundaries were drawn up in 1919.
The wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape display great fruit freshness, black pepper, spice, earth and garrigue (a French term for the wild hillside vegetation of the Mediterranean Coast).
The vineyards are planted with 14 varietals at four levels of altitude as the land rises up from the Rhone River.
The most plentiful reds include Grenache and Cinsault, with Mourvedre, Syrah and other sanctioned reds producing wines that are full and aromatic with spicy dark fruits balanced with acidity and minerality.
Whites make up only 6% of production but are worth trying. They speak of the warm southern climate – honeysuckle, stone fruits and melon, backed with refreshing minerality.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines are usually pricier than other Rhône wines, with prices starting in the $50 range. However, there are some much less expensive Rhône wines that are equally as enjoyable. But if you are seeking a more collectable or cellarable wine, Châteauneuf-du-Pape provides some great choices.
During the Middle Ages, Benedictine and Cistercian monks, whose responsibility it was to produce wine for the Church, began to recognize subtle variations in the wines from different areas. They began to map the vineyards in terms of quality and as a result, Burgundy’s famous, complex cru system began to emerge.
Burgundy (aka “Bourgogne”) is small in size but its influence is huge in the world of wine. It is home to some of the most expensive wines but there are tasty and affordable ones as well.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the two primary grapes of Bourgogne (Burgundy) white and red wines. However, Aligoté, Pinot Gris, Gamay, and Sauvignon Blanc are grown as well.
Burgundy has 5 primary wine growing areas:
Chablis
Côte de Nuits
Côte de Beaune
Côte Chalonnaise
Mâconnais
Chablis
Chablis is the growing region located furthest north and is geographically set apart from the rest of Burgundy. The river Serein (Serene) flows through the area, moderating the climate, and the grapes have been grown here since the Cistercian monks first started the vineyards in the 12th century.
All the wines are white and made with Chardonnay grapes.
Côte de Nuits
The Côte de Nuits is home to 24 Grand Cru vineyards and some of the world’s most expensive vineyard real estate. The area begins just south of Dijon and ends at the village of Corgoloin. 80% of the wines produced here are Pinot Noir and the remaining 20% are either Chardonnay or Rosé.
Côte de Beaune
The Côte de Beaune is named after the medieval village that is the heart of wine commerce in Burgundy. The wine from this region is quite different from that of its neighbor to the north. Chardonnay plays a more important role with 7 of the 8 Grand Cru vineyards producing white wine, but there are many amazing red wines produced in this region as well.
Côte Chalonnaise
Côte Chalonnaise is situated between the towns of Chagny and Saint-Vallerin. Here there are no Grand Cru vineyards.
The first village in the northern part of the region is Bouzeron, the only appellation devoted to the white grape, Aligoté. This is a perfect summer sipper or choice for fish and shellfish. Aligoté is floral, with notes of citrus and flint, and perhaps a touch of honey.
Another village that does something a bit different is Rully, a vibrant center of Cremant de Bourgogne production since the 19th century. These white and rosé sparklers are made in the traditional method, just as in Champagne.
The wines from this area are good value. They range from smooth Chardonnays with subtle oak influences and ripe tree fruits to more rustic Pinot Noirs.
Mâconnais
Mâconnais is the most southerly region, and Burgundy’s largest. Located between the town of Tournus and St. Veran, it lies at the crossroads between Northern and Southern France. The warmer climate is evident in the well-structured Chardonnays, with notes of ripe stone fruits, honeysuckle, citrus peel, and wild herbs.
Burgundy Wine Classifications
There are four levels of quality for Burgundy wines:
1% Grand Cru – Wines from Burgundy’s top plots (called climats). There are 33 Grand Crus in the Côte d’Or and about 60% of the production is dedicated to Pinot Noir.
10% Premier Cru – Wines from exceptional climats in Burgundy. There are 640 Premier Cru plots in Burgundy.
37% Village Wines – Wines from a village or commune of Burgundy. There are 44 villages including Chablis, Nuits-St-Georges, and Mâcon-Villages.
52% Regional Wines – Wines from overarching Bourgogne appellations.
Regional Wines
Regional Wines can be made from grapes grown anywhere in Burgundy and tend to be fresh, light, and lively. You will find them labeled “Bourgogne Rouge” (red) or “Bourgogne Blanc (white).
Village Wines
The next step-up is the “Village” wines, named after the towns near to where the grapes are sourced. These wines are still fresh and fruity, with little to no oak.
Premier Cru Burgundy
“Premier Cru” wines are from special vineyard areas within a village. They produce wines that are slightly more intense than the regular old Village wines. Premier Crus are affordable and make marvelous food wines. The label will say “Premier Cru” or “1er Cru.”
Grand Cru Burgundy
The “Grand Cru” wines account for just over 1% of Burgundy’s annual production. Bold, powerful, complex and made for cellaring, they are the epitome of both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. There are a total of 33 Grand Cru vineyards in Burgundy.
Chablis Classification System
There is a separate ranking system for Chardonnay:
Petit Chablis
Petit Chablis is produced from grapes grown surrounding the village, which are higher in acidity and have lots of light citrus character.
Chablis
The majority of the wines found on wine store shelves are in this category. These wines are a bit rounder and more minerally with grapes sourced from the limestone slopes near the village of Chablis.
Premier Cru Chablis
Premier Cru Chablis make up about 15% of annual production. These wines are more elegant coming from vineyards filled with Kimmeridgian limestone marl, giving them a distinctive character.
Grand Cru Chablis:
These vineyards are located north of the town of Chablis, where the steep slopes face south-southwest. There is technically only one Grand Cru, but there are 7 “climats” inside that Grand Cru, and their names will be on the label: Blanchot, Bougros, Les Clos, Grenouilles, Presuses, Valmur, and Vaudésir. Many of the Grand Cru wines in Chablis are aged in oak.
Final Thoughts
Whatever your pleasure, make a point of trying some of the wines of the Burgundy region. You can’t go wrong and you don’t need to spend a fortune to find a nice one.
Bordeaux is one of the most iconic wine regions of not only France, but all of Europe. The wines produced in Bordeaux have become a benchmark for wine producers all around the world.
Bordeaux was first loved for its sweet white wines from the sub-region of Sauternes. The wine had prestigious clientele during an era when sweet white wines were more popular than dry red ones. There was also a rosé popular in the 1700’s, particularly with the English, who called it “claret” due to the wines translucent red color.
It wasn’t until the mid-1800’s that Bordeaux red wines became more well-known. The dramatic moment of this transformation was an official decree that classified the top producers of the day. The classification, now deemed the “1855 Classification”, identified the best producers in the region and ranked them 1 through 5. The classification basically hasn’t changed even though there are many more producers in the region making outstanding wines.
Bordeaux is one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious wine regions. Bordeaux is synonymous with quality and refinement. While the legendary wines of Château Margaux or Pétrus command prices that place them out of reach of the average consumer, Bordeaux’s true greatness lies in the fact that wines with elegance, sophistication and balance can be found at all price points.
Red wines from Bordeaux are medium to full-bodied with aromas of black currant, plums, and earthy notes. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vines originated in Bordeaux. The tannins in these wines are often high enough that wines will age for several decades.
One of the most important things to know about Bordeaux wines is that they are a blend of grape varieties. The red Bordeaux Blend is one of the most copied around the world and it includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and a small amount of Carménère.
When serving Red Bordeaux, it should be slightly below room temperature (around 65 °F / 18 °C) and decanted for at least 30 minutes. All red wines should be stored below 65 °F / 18 °C.
You should expect to spend around $25–$30 for a great bottle of Red Bordeaux.
Suitable food pairings for Bordeaux include,
Meat
Black Pepper Steak
Roast Pork
Filet Mignon
Beef Brisket
Buffalo Burgers
Chicken Liver
Pot Roast
Venison
Duck
Goose
Dark Meat Turkey
Cheese
Ossau Iraty
Basque Cheeses
Manchego
Swiss Cheese
Comté
White Cheddar
Provolone
Pepper Jack
Herb/Spice
Black Pepper
White Pepper
Oregano
Rosemary
Mustard Seed
Cumin
Coriander Seed
Anise
Vegetable
Roast Potatoes
Lentils
Mushrooms
Onion
Green Onion
Green Bean Casserole
The Bordeaux region is separated into two sub-regions, the “Left Bank”, referred to as Médoc and Graves, and the “Right Bank”, known as Libournais.
The Left Bank (Médoc and Graves)
This area is known for its gravelly soils and graphite-driven red wines with a dominance of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. The most prestigious sub-regions in the Médoc include Pauillac, Saint-Julien, Saint–Estephe, Margaux and Pessac-Leognan (the areas first classified in 1855). The wines from Médoc are some of the boldest and most tannic of Bordeaux, perfect for aging or matching with red meat.
Left bank Bordeaux blends, in order of proportion are:
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Cabernet Franc
Malbec
Petit Verdot
The Right Bank (Libournais)
This area in Bordeaux is known for its red clay soils that produce bold plummy red wines with a dominance of Merlot. The most well-known and sought after sub-regions including Pomerol and Saint-Emilion. The wines from around Libourne are still moderately bold, but generally have softer, more refined tannins. For this reason, right bank wines are a great way to get introduced to the region. Here is a typical example of a Libournais Bordeaux blend in order of importance:
Merlot
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Sauvignon
Entre-Deux-Mers “Between 2 Tides”
The area between the 2 major rivers of Bordeaux, the Garonne and the Dordogne, is called Entre-Deux-Mers. This area produces both red (predominantly Merlot) and white wines but is perhaps more well-known for its white wines, which are a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and the rare Muscadelle. Wines have grapefruit and citrus notes with zippy acidity–a perfect wine for summer and fish.
Sauternais Sweet Wines
Sauternes and its surrounding regions of Barsac and Cadillac, are along a particularly dank portion of the Garonne River. Morning fog causes the white grapes growing in the area to develop a certain type of fungus called Botrytis. The fungus causes the grapes to shrivel and sweeten making one of the sweetest white wines in the world.
White Bordeaux
Only a small part of Bordeaux’s wine production is dedicated to white wines. These wines are made with Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon and range from zippy and fresh from places like Entre-Deux-Mers to creamy and lemon curd-like from places like Pessac-Leognan.
Last Word
Bordeaux is a region that has been a source of inspiration to many of today’s most popular wines. If you are a fan of red wine and have never tried a French Bordeaux, I recommend purchasing a bottle. Better yet, try both a left bank and a right bank wine and see which you prefer.
Italy and France are two of the world’s finest wine producing countries, for both quality and quantity. Italy has made wines longer and is a larger producer of wine, but France is more renowned for its creation of premium wines. So does one rein superior to the other? I really don’t believe so but here are some of the facts to help you to decide for yourself.
Traditional Sparkling Wine
To begin the France Italy showdown are sparkling wines that are produced using the traditional method – Champagne versus Franciacorta. Both wines utilize a second fermentation that occurs in the bottle. It is the most labour intensive process that creates the most complex textured wines.
Champagne is considered the home of traditionally prepared sparkling wine and has the most stringent regulations for production. These rules dictate both blending practices and aging requirements.
Franciacorta, though less famous than Champagne, uses the same type of grapes and may even have a longer aging process. Given the warmer climate, the grapes are riper but do not have the same vibrancy as the French wine. However, it is worth considering that a Franciacorta sparkler will have a more favourable price point than a similar one from Champagne.
Great-Value Sparkling Wine
Both France’s Crémant and Italy’s Prosecco share the versatility provided by the more expensive traditional sparkling wines but at a much gentler price.
Crémant wines are produced using the traditional method but with less restrictions than Champagne.
Prosecco is produced using the Charmat method which conducts the second fermentation in a tank rather than in the bottle. Some of the finer Proseccos are aged several years to create a more complex flavorful wine.
The price of both the French and Italian versions is comparable.
Notable Styles
France’s Châteauneuf-Du-Pape and Italy’s Amarone are premium wines from their respective regions and are considered to be among the finest wines in the world. They are both full-bodied and smooth.
The wines from Châteauneuf-Du-Pape are a blend which has the Grenache grape as the principal grape. The balance of the wine often consists of a combination of Mourvèdre, Counoise, Vaccarèse, and Muscardine.
The region produces intense, powerful wines with great body. Many of these offerings may be drunk when released or retained for quite a few years.
Italy’s Amarone wines are made from grapes from the most mature vines which are harvested late to ensure ripeness. The grapes are then dried on racks or hooks for about 120 days in order to obtain a higher concentration of sugar and flavour. During this process 30% to 40% of the grapes’ weight is lost which is part of the reason for this wine selling at a higher price.
Though the cost of both of these wines can run over $100, the average price is in the $50 range. Whether one wine is preferred over the other will depend on your personal taste.
Challenging Grapes
France’s gentle flavoured Pinot Noir and Italy’s bold Nebbiolo grape share two things in common; they are both very difficult grapes to grow; and they are among the most sought after grapes in the world.
The majority of France’s Pinot Noir grapes are grown in Burgundy.
The Italian Nebbiolo grape is grown exclusively in Piedmont and is used in the creation of Barolo wine.
The two types of wine, apart from both being red, are vastly different in intensity, richness, and flavour. It would not be fair to try and compare or rate one against the other. They each stand on their own merits.
Notable Regions
The most recognized wine region within each country is France’s Bordeaux and Italy’s Tuscany. These regions are home to some of the world’s most expensive sought after wines. However, they also offer an enticing array of wines at a wide range of price points.
The wines of Bordeaux consist of a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The region is divided into 2 sectors – the left bank and the right bank – by the Dordogne, Garonne and Gironde rivers. The left bank wines will contain a higher concentration of Cabernet Sauvignon while the right bank wines contain a greater proportion of Merlot.
The wines of Bordeaux have extraordinary consistency of balance and structure, irrelevant of the price point.
The signature grape of Tuscany is the Sangiovese, which is the basis of 3 of Italy’s most famous wines, Chianti, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Brunello. There are also other wines consisting of a combination of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
There are a great variety of styles , flavours, techniques and price points, all containing the definitive Tuscan identity.
There is no winner or loser in this comparison. It comes down to a matter of personal taste.
The White Pinot
France’s Pinot Gris and Italy’s Pinot Grigio are the same grape but are produced in different styles. The Pinot Gris is produced in the Alsace region of France whereas Pinot Grigio is associated with northern Italy.
Pinot Gris is produced in a range of styles ranging from dry to sweet. They contain a distinct richness, weight, spiciness, and complexity that is said not to exist in the Italian version. The French version of the grape has more potential for aging as well.
The Italian Pinot Grigio is light and zesty and makes a great sipping wine. It is said to have subtle floral and fruit aromas and flavours.
Aromatic Whites
Aromatic whites are typically those wines producing the aroma of flowers and herbs. Such wines are normally not aged in oak barrels.
France’s Sauvignon Blanc is the noted white wine grape of Bordeaux and the Loire. It is renowned for the hint of lime, green apple, peach and tropical fruit, as well as its herb and grassy notes.
Italy’s Vermentino wine is light and refreshing. It is also complex and layered displaying fruit tones, mineral and herbal notes.
As I stated earlier, I don’t believe there is a winner or a loser. Both countries provide their own uniqueness and distinct flavours through their wine offerings. There are no comparisons for a French Bordeaux or Châteauneuf-Du-Pape but the same can be said for an Italian Borolo or Chianti. Whether a French wine is preferred over an Italian wine or vice versa is a matter of personal taste.
To simply say that one country is superior to the other and ignore the offerings of the other would be a travesty. Such a person would be denying her/himself the opportunity to indulge in some great tasting wines.
The practice to sell wine before it’s bottled, commonly known as “en primeur” or wine futures, is well established across many wine regions like Burgundy, the Rhône Valley, Piedmont Port and in particular, Bordeaux. The major châteaux of Bordeaux offer about 80% to 90% of their previous year’s wine production for sale as futures.
Beginning in late March or early April, the châteaus host tastings for the trade to evaluate the potential quality of the vintage harvested during the previous autumn. This is the first opportunity to purchase the new vintage. At that point the wines have just been placed into barrels and are still about two years from reaching the market in bottles.
Over the course of the spring, the châteaux release their trade prices for the vintage based on the initial response to the wines, as well as current economic conditions. It will be interesting to see how this proceeds this spring given the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting effects on the economy.
The wines first go through courtiers (brokers) who take a small percentage of the cost. Next the right to sell the futures is passed on to the négociants (shippers), who set a new price for the wine, referred to as the ex-négoce price. With very few exceptions, no one deals directly with Bordeaux’s châteaux; they deal with the négociants.
Why Buy Wine Futures?
There are a few advantages of buying wine futures. The wine is often the least expensive at the first release because the margins made by wine merchants are the smallest. It is common for the price of the wine to increase and the margins made by wine merchants to also increase once the wine is offered for sale in the bottle.
Futures may be the only way for individuals to obtain high quality, low quantity, hard to find wine as such wines are often sold out prior to them being available for distribution.
Futures enable an individual to purchase a special wine for a special birth year, or as a gift or for weddings and anniversaries.
Futures enable people to purchase the latest vintage of wines that they like to get every year and where there is generally strong demand, such as Mouton Rothschild, La Mission Haut Brion, Cheval Blanc, Lynch Bages, Montrose, Pichon Lalande, Pontet Canet and Haut Bailly.
Wine futures, like other commodities, can be purchased with the hope or expectation that there will be a return on investment. Those who invest do so to secure high-quality wines at the best prices, but there’s no guarantee that they will be more expensive upon release.
Other Considerations
The wines are often not quite ready for consumption at the time they are released for distribution. This then requires the purchaser to have a suitable location to store the wine until it is actually consumed. Suggestions on cellaring wine can be found in my post from August 24, 2019, “Drink or lay down and how to cellar those you keep”.
Since any wine you purchase in this manner won’t be delivered for about 2 years, you will need to keep track of what you ordered, the quantity you ordered, the anticipated delivery date, and how much you deposited and what portion is due on delivery.
Selecting & Ordering Futures
I have purchased Bordeaux futures several times through my local liquor store. Once a year the store releases a catalogue containing all of the wine futures they have access to that particular year. The catalogue provides reviewers comments about each release, a scoring of the wine, the price per bottle, and the number of bottles available.
On the identified sale date, individuals can then order their selections either online or by calling a specified telephone number.
Realizing the Futures
When the wines are released from the winery they will be shipped to the wine merchant, who then contacts the purchaser. Since the wines are packaged and shipped direct from the chateau they are securely packed and often in a wooden crate that clearly identifies the chateau.
The wines can then either be cellared in the crate or placed on a shelf or wine rack until you are ready to enjoy them.
People sometimes shy away from French wine
because they are unable to determine what type of wine they are selecting. No where will you see the varietal of grape
identified. This is because France
identifies its wines using the Appellation System, a complex system of laws that
define each wine region and its boundaries and imposes strict rules around
winemaking practices.
Most appellations take the form of place
names, such as Champagne or Bordeaux. What this means is that the grapes grown
in each region are consistent with all of the wine producers within that
region. This becomes the key to
understanding what grapes are contained within a particular French wine.
Here is a brief explanation of what grapes
are grown in each of the appellations.
Hopefully this will help you crack the code to identify the varietals
found in French wines.
Alsace
Alsace is the only French wine region to
grow significant quantities of Riesling and Gewurztraminer grapes, as well as
Pinot Gris.
Alsace Grand Cru wines are general only
allowed to be made from these three varieties but may also contain some Muscat.
Chasselas, Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois are
also grown although these three varietals tend to be used only in blends.
There are some red wines produced in the
region as well, mainly from Pinot Noir. Alsace
Pinot Noirs are typically lighter-bodied and more rustic than the majority of
Pinot Noir wines produced in France.
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is produced in the southwest of
France. The majority of Bordeaux wines
are the dry, medium- and full-bodied red Bordeaux Blends. There are some high-quality
white wines as well, both dry styles and the sweet, botrytized varieties. Botrytis is a type of fungus that generates
sugar and sweetness in the grapes.
Most Bordeaux reds are made from a blend of
Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Merlot is
the most common red wine grape in Bordeaux, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon and
then Cabernet Franc. Petit Verdot, Malbec and Carmenère are also permitted, but
only make up around two percent of the red grape total.
Bordeaux’s white wines are generally blends
of Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. Sauvignon Gris the only other
white variety that is permitted.
Burgundy
The two key grape varieties of Burgundy are
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Gamay and Aligote are also grown throughout the
region, producing more rustic styles of wine. Gamay is used in the red and rosé
wines.
Beaujolais
Beaujolais is famous for its vibrant, fruity
red wines made from Gamay.
Pinot Noir is used in small quantities in
red and rosé wines, but is being phased out. Although best known for its red
wines, the region also produces white Beaujolais Blanc, from Chardonnay and Aligote.
Champagne
Champagne is the name of the world’s most
famous sparkling wine. While it has been used to refer to sparkling wines from
all over the world, Champagne is a legally controlled and restricted name.
Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay are
the primary grape varieties used to make Champagne.
The key Champagne styles differ in their
color, sweetness, base grape varieties, and whether they are the product of a
single vintage or several (referred to as Non-Vintage). The whites may be
either Blanc de Noirs (made from black-skinned grapes), Blanc de Blancs (made
from green-skinned grapes) or just plain Blanc (made from any combination of
the permitted varieties). Pink Champagne Rosé is made either by adding red wine
to a white blend or sometimes by fermenting the juice in contact with the
skins. These types all come with varying degrees of sweetness.
Cognac
Cognac is the world’s most famous brandy. It is graded in three official tiers, which
reflect how long the spirit spent in barrel. VS (Very Special) is the lowest
tier and means the brandy has been stored for a minimum of two years in casks.
VSOP (Very Special Old Pale) is the middle tier and denotes Cognac that has
been aged for at least four years. XO is the finest grade and is reserved
exclusively for those cuvees aged for six years or more.
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean
Sea, located between the southeast coast of Provence and the west coast of
Tuscany. Although it is closer to Italy, Corsica is governed by France. The
island’s Italian origins are evident in its wines, which are made predominantly
from the Italian classics Vermentino and Sangiovese.
Corsica’s wines have both a French and
Italian influence. Pinot Noir, Grenache, Tempranillo and Barbarossa are all grown
there alongside one another.
Grenache is a primary ingredient in many
Corsican red wines and Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsaut and Carignan all play a
variety of supporting roles.
The only white varietal is Vermentino/Rolle.
Coteaux
du Lyonnais
These wines are of a lighter style similar to
those produced in Beaujolais. The red wines are produced from Gamay grapes.
A small amount of white wine is made from
Chardonnay and Aligoté. Occasionally some Pinot Blanc is added to the blend.
These are traditionally dry, floral styles, some of which are matured in oak
barrels for up to a year to produce a slightly more structured, weighty
version.
Jura
Jura is a small wine region in eastern
France.
The five main grape varieties used in the
region are Poulsard, a red grape which accounts for about one-fifth of the
region’s plantings; Trousseau, the other local red variety, covers only the
warmest 5% of Jura’s vineyards; White Savagnin, which is responsible for the
idiosyncratic vins jaunes (‘yellow wines’);
Pinot Noir; and Chardonnay.
Dry white wines are also made in Jura,
increasingly from Chardonnay as are dry red wines produced from Pinot Noir.
Loire
The Loire Valley is a key wine region in
western France.
White wines are the Loire Valley’s best
wines, and account for the vast majority of production. The key white-wine
grape varieties used to make Loire Valley whites are Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin
Blanc, Melon de Bourgogne and, more popular than traditional, Chardonnay.
Loire reds are of increasingly high quality.
The number one red-wine variety is
Cabernet Franc. Lighter-bodied red wines are made from Pinot Noir, Malbec
(known here as Côt) and Gamay.
Moselle
Moselle is an appellation covering white,
red and rosé wines. While Auxerrois
Blanc, Muller-Thurgau and Pinot Gris are the principal varieties set out in the
appellation law, Gewurztraminer, Riesling and Pinot Blanc are permitted in the
white wines in limited amounts.
The reds must be made entirely of Pinot
Noir, but Moselle rosés may have a proportion of Gamay.
Provence
Provence is a wine region in the far
southeastern corner of France, best known for its rosé wines.
Traditional varieties such as Carignan,
Barbaroux (Sardinia’s Barbarossa) and Calitor are being replaced by more
commercially viable grapes like Grenache, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon.
The more successful local varieties
Mourvèdre, Tibouren and Vermentino are incorporated in Provence’s red, rosé and
white wines respectively.
Rhône
The Rhône Valley is a key wine-producing
region in the southeast of France. The
smaller, more quality-driven northern section focuses on Syrah for red wines
and Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne for whites. The larger south region contains a much
longer list of varieties; the most notable of these are the red Grenache Syrah and
Mourvedre, which are combined to produce the ‘GSM’ blend.
Savoie
Savoie is a wine region in eastern France. Around three-quarters of the region’s wines
are white. Jacquère is the most widely
planted white grape variety. Altesse,
known traditionally here as Roussette, is used to produce some of Savoie’s
finer wines.
As in many other areas of France, Chardonnay
is increasingly being planted in Savoie. It is used in still and sparkling
wines.
Although Savoie is dominated by white wines,
it does have a standout red variety, Mondeuse. Gamay and Pinot Noir are also grown.
These are lighter in style than their respective counterparts in Beaujolais and
Burgundy.
Personally, I am most attracted to the reds
of the Rhône. I find them to be very
versatile, being both full bodied and flavourful while at the same time being
smooth. They are suitable for pairing
with a favourite meal or simply enjoyed on their own.
No matter what your likes or dislikes, don’t
allow yourself to be intimidated by foreign wine labels. Be adventurous and go exploring.
In a previous post I described Canada’s VQA
standard for helping to ensure the wine you purchase is an enjoyable
experience. Not all countries take this
same approach to standard identification.
Many countries, such as Australia and the United States, govern the wine
industry with a general set of standards and controls and do not adhere to any
particular categorization for wine quality.
However, there are other countries, such as France, Italy & Germany
that do have quality standards specific to wine.
To begin I will focus on France, which has 3 primary quality groupings. The first is AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée), which indicates the geographical origin, quality and the style of a wine. The Europe-wide equivalent of AOC is AOP (Appellation d’Origine Protégée). All Grand Cru and Premier Cru wines fall into the AOC category.
Grand
Cru
is the very highest classification of French wine. The term can refer to a wine
in one of two ways, either the plot of land where the grapes are grown or the
chateau at which the wine is made. The former applies most famously in
Burgundy, Alsace and Champagne but is also used in Languedoc and the Loire
Valley; the latter being exclusive to Bordeaux.
Premier
Cru
denotes either a vineyard plot (most often in Burgundy) of superior quality, or
the very highest tier within a Grand Cru classification (such as the ‘Premier
Grand Cru Classé chateaux of Bordeaux).
The second wine category is VDP (Vin de Pays), which means ‘wine of the land’, although it is often translated as ‘country wine’. The European equivalent is IGP (Indication Géographique Protégée). This category focuses on geographical origin rather than style and tradition, and gives winemakers greater stylistic freedom than AOC. Vin de Pays was introduced in the 1970s, and by the year 2000 there were more than 150 individual VDP titles, covering about a quarter of French wine production
The final category, Vin de France, replaced Vin de Table in 2010, but remains the most
basic quality tier for French wine. This is the least regulated (and least
used) of the three categories; Vin de France wines can be made from grapes
grown anywhere in France, but their labels do not mention a specific region of
origin. Vintage and grape varietal statements are optional.
Some of the French quality scales can be
easily identified on the wine label. For
example, if applicable the term ‘Grand Cru’ or ‘Premier Cru’ will appear
somewhere on the label. You will also
notice a correlation between the quality rating and the price of the
wines. Generally speaking ‘Grand Cru’
wines are at the top end of the price scale, with ‘Premier Cru’ are somewhat
less expensive.
Here are some helpful hints when interpreting a French wine label; some of the terms are more obvious than others.
Blanc = White wine
Brut = Dry
Château = The name of the wine producer
Côte/Coteaux = Slope of a hill/hillsides, for example Côtes du Rhône
Crémant = A style of sparkling wine different from Champagne
Cru = Means ‘growth’ – it is used to denote the status of a winery or vineyard
Cru Classé = Classified vineyard, suggesting a certain quality or age of the vines
Demi-sec = Medium-dry
Domaine = Estate
Doux = Sweet
Grand Cru = Signifying the highest quality wines
Méthode Traditionnelle = Traditional method of sparkling winemaking, like Champagne
Mis en bouteille au château/domaine = Bottled at the winery
Premier Cru = First growth
Propriétaire = Identifies the estate or vineyard owner
Rouge = Red
Sélection de Grains Nobles = Sweet wine made from botrytized grapes (grapes containing botrytis fungus, which is seen as being beneficial to the wine)
Supérieur = Wine with a higher alcohol content as a result of being made from riper grapes
VDQS (Vin Délimité de Qualité Supérieure) = a mid-level classification used between 1949 and 2012
Vendange Tardive = Late harvest (sweet) wines
Vieilles Vignes = Old vines
Vigneron/Viticulteur = Vine grower/grape grower
Vignoble = Vineyard
Vin = Wine
Hopefully all of this will help take some of
the mystery out of how to find an enjoyable French wine. I have found that the French wines that are
exported, especially any of those that appear on the shelves of the Vintages
section of my local liquor store, are all worth a try. I think you will find that French wine does
not need to be expensive nor of a specific quality standard to be enjoyable.
In the future I will take a similar look at German and Italian wine classifications.
