French Wine Regions
Top French Wine Regions
Bordeaux
Located in southwest France, this region has 60+ growing appellations that produce mainly red Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc wines. The region has a temperate, Mediterranean climate.
Besides the famous reds, the region also produces White Bordeaux made of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Muscadelle.
Burgundy
Burgundy (or Bourgogne) is a French wine region with a legacy of Pinot Noir reds, white Chardonnays, and Beaujolais Gamay wines.
Burgundy has over 100 appellations divided into Burgundy Grand Crus, Premier Crus, Village Wines, and Regional Wines.
Burgundy has five primary wine growing areas, including Chablis with its chalky terrain, Côte de Nuits, Côte Chalonnaise, Mâconnais, and Côte de Beaune near Beaune.
You’ll find red Burgundy Grand Cru vineyards in the Côte de Nuits area of Burgundy. The Corton Grand Cru Burgundy wine area is in the south of Burgundy. The smaller Jura wine area lies close to Burgundy.
Champagne
This is the northernmost wine region that lies to the east of Paris. It is known for its sparkling Blanc de Blancs and Blanc de Noirs.
Rhone Valley
Rhone Valley is famous for its Syrah and Grenache Syrah Mourvèdre (GSM) blend wines from Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Hermitage appellations, and Condrieu wines made from Viognier grapes.
The Rhone river flows through the Rhone Valley or Côtes du Rhône dividing it into Southern Rhone and Northern Rhone Valley.
Provence
Provence is a French wine region on the south-eastern coast, known for its red wines from Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cinsault, and Mourvèdre grape varieties.
Alsace
This wine region is known for its Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Gewürztraminer wines. The wines from this region are named after the grape varietal instead of the place of origin - like the Rosenhof Pinot Gris 2018.
Beaujolais
Beaujolais lies to the south of Burgundy and is famous for its fruity, vibrant, red Beaujolais Gamay wines. The unique Beaujolais flavor owes itself to the soil made fertile by the Nizerand river.
Languedoc and Roussillon
Languedoc-Roussillon is a historical coastal area in southern France, extending from the Provence region to the Pyrenees Mountains and the Spain border. The Languedoc wine range consists of Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault, and Mourvèdre blends.
Loire Valley
Loire Valley vineyards in the northwest produce wines like Sauvignon Blanc, Loire Vouvray, Loire Pouilly-Fume, Chinon, Marsanne, and Muscadet. The most famous Loire Valley appellation is the Sancerre with its limestone-rich Sauvignon Blanc vineyards that make dry white wines like Loire Pouilly-Fume. You’ll also find the popular Chenin Blanc Vouvrays in the Loire.
South West France
The South West or Sud-Ouest produces Malbecs, Colombard, Ugni Blanc, and Gros Manseng blends.