Vins de France 101

I am a Francophile of sorts. I adore all things French – wine, cuisine, and haut couture, in that order. My distinct pleasure is to introduce you to my first adoration on the list, the wine regions of France. Welcome to Vin de Francais 101. Bonjour, mon amis, et a votre sante! as we journey throughout France to “experience” why She is the undisputed mistress of wine.

The wine world has a love-hate relationship with the French. France produces more fine wine than any other country. Wine is rooted into its culture and has affected – and influenced – the world. Why is this so? It’s not just that the French are passionate; it’s about geography. France receives the benefits of two climate-affecting bodies of water: the Atlantic on the west and the Mediterranean to the south. This helps to create varied wine regions with long growing seasons that allow grapes to ripen fully. Qualities only a winemaker could love.

What sets each wine region apart? Terroir, of course. It is not only a quintessentially French concept; it is what creates distinctive wine styles from each region. Terroir is what Mother Earth gives to the grapes all on her own. Temperature, rainfall, sunlight, altitude and soil composition are all-natural gifts unique to each vineyard. As a result, the character and quality of each wine reflects the terroir from which it came and contributes the many wine styles of France.

Regarding quality, in France, you must earn your way to the top. The French control, define, and classify their wines. Appellation Controlee or AC wines is Frances’s official category for its highest-ranking wines. Geographical origins, varietal make-up, and production methods are regulated. Vins Delimites de Qualite Superieure or VDQS wines are judged up to the AC standard with less stringent regulations on yields and grape varieties. Vins de Pays or “country wines” are often from areas larger than the AC zones where non-traditional varieties and higher yields are permitted. Vins de Table wines are simple and can be produced anywhere in France with no restriction to grape variety or yields.

All that being said, I’ve experienced France’s passion toward the grape. Several years ago, my husband and I visited Burgundy. We started north in Chablis and meandered south to Gevrey-Chambertin, Nuits St. George, among others along the Cote d’Or. We had no appointments, no schedule. People can say what they want about the French and their aversion to friendliness, but we were warmly welcomed and lived vicariously through their stories. We hung out in Beaune, the heart of Burgundy, for a couple of days then headed south to Pommard and Meursault. At last we made our pilgrimage to “Le Montrachet.” This site produces a single vineyard chardonnay beyond epic proportion. I stood under the centuries old archway that was erect in the vineyard. It was like touching the holy grail of wine religion.