Today, you can find a vineyard being cultivated on almost every region and continent. The French wine derived from various exquisite French vineyards located in their countryside, offer interesting flavors produced in a breath taking landscape. It may be due to this beautiful scenery, but French wines have become one of the most well known and most enjoyed wines in the world.
In France, the rating of a wine is determined by the grape's maturity, its exposure in the environment, the type of grapes and the nutrients in the soil (even the slope, wind and other topographical factors figure into the mix and taste of the end product). Many speculate that climate change will affect the wine industry and wines we continue to enjoy in years to come.
The wine flavor is determined by tannins, the variety of grape and the nutrients in the soil where the grape vines are growing. Most wine lovers begin with white wines but then advance to a more rich and robust, intense taste of reds, drier whites like the Savignon Blanc.
Here is some information and descriptions of several top French wines, including their regions:
* Vallee du Rhone ? This wine's appellation is the second largest in France. Very colorful and aromatic, the spices are a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre.
Wine: Cotes du Rhone * Bordeaux - The microclimate helps to concentrate the grapes sugar which is necessary for making sweet wines. These estates are rich with the aroma of honey citrus and apricot.
Wine: Cadillac * Champagne ? The champagne is the most well known wine of the champagne region. Located in the east of Paris, these white grapes are known to get wonderful sun exposure. Established in 1927 the appellations villages are called CRUS.
Wine: Champagne * Beaujolois - The area varies in exposures and soil type. This has great aging potential which vary between 5 to 10 years depending on vintage site.
Wine: Morgon * Languedoc ? Rousillon ? This wine comes from vineyards that have been in existence since the 11th century. The resulting wine is fruity with hints of strawberry, cherry and cassis. Wine: Malepire en Lanquedoc (Red)
It is always nice to know what kind of wine to bring when you arrive at a function or if you are being a hostess for your dinner guests. These wines are excellent French wines to bring along, or to purchase for these social gatherings.
If you are going to be engaging in a romantic dinner date, two very good French wines that would help to set the mood are: Bordeaux et Bordeaux Superieus and as well a sultry Reisling, AOC Alsace. If it is a celebration that you will be attending, and you would like to bring a great French wine, consider the Bordeaux et Bourdeaux Superieur blanc et rose. With any of these selections, you will be the life of any celebration.
If you are planning to have a simple meal with friends, the suggested French wine would have to be Cotes du Rhone Villages. Enjoy!!
Appellation Controlee (AC or AOC) is the top grade of French. AC is a part of French law that guarantees that a wine comes from where the label says it does, that it is made from specific grapes and that it is produced in a certain way.
So, first we assume that you are choosing an AC (Appellation Controlee) wine.
You will probably have already chosen between red wine, white wine or Rose.
First Quality Rule:
Make sure the wine has sufficient alcohol content for its type. This means at least 13% for a Bordeaux, but only 11% for a Gros Plant from the mouth of the Loire. 12-13% for a Tavel Rose from the Rhone Valley; 12% for Anjou Rose from the Loire. Alcohol level is easier to achieve in these days of global warming than it used to be so in some ways this is less of a guide.
Second Quality Rule:
Is it Chateau bottled or bottled by the proprietor ? It should be. If it is not then it will probably be a blend from different producers. Not necessarily bad, but not the best. Bottling by a negociant is less acceptable these days than it was.
Third Quality Rule:
Has the wine ever won any awards ? You need to be looking for gold medals on the label. It seems trivial to non-French people, but if the wine producer thinks well of his wine he will be competing for this kind of award, and will be proud to have the medal on his label.
Fourth Quality Rule.
Is the bottle numbered ? Here again if the wine producer thinks well of his wine he may take the extra care to number his output and put a serial number on his label. Quite what you can use the numbers for (apart from this wine quality test) is a subject for speculation.
Fifth Quality Rule:
Is the cork sufficiently long for the wine ? This really applies to wines that may be kept for a long time before drinking, as a long cork preserves the wine more surely. If a short cork was used then there is a question mark against the wine ? the producer thought more about his costs than his wine. The only snag about this rule by the way is that the cork is at least partly concealed by the capsul (the metal foil wrapper).
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Ian Love has sinced written about articles on various topics from Wine and Spirits, Food And Drink and Wine and Spirits. Ian Love is director of group West Valley, which runs. Ian Love's top article generates over 33100 views. to your Favourites.
Chas And Steve has sinced written about articles on various topics from Wine and Spirits, Travel and Leisure and Perfumes. Chas and Steve write a variety of articles on France, wines, Diet and Perfume. You can see more on French wines at . Ple. Chas And Steve's top article generates over 880 views. to your Favourites.