France is renown for its wine...no doubt about that! Bordeaux of course will probably be the main region that comes to mind when talking about wine. This is why we had to mention it (and also because it truly is a beautiful region with many assets :) but France's wines are not limited to Bordeaux. Here are the regions that could be of interest if you, or your clients, like wine.
1. Burgundy
Located between Paris and Lyon, the region produces some of the most expensive wines of the country. It is the land of the prestigious Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Burgundy also owns a wide range of wine appellations such as Côte de Beaune, Châblis, Côte de Nuits, Côte Chalonnaise, Maconnais, and Beaujolais. The region also offers a fine gastronomy to pair with wine. You can discover Burgundy wine region from Beaune or Dijon.
2. Bordeaux
Told you! impossible to forget it...
Bordeaux is the perfect destination for wine lovers. With its oceanic climate, the regions produces some of the France's finest wines with many grape varieties. The region is home to an endless collection of Chateaux and Domains, from small producers to internationally renown houses.
The recently open Cité du Vin, located in Bordeaux's city center, is also a must see. The modern and emblematic building located in the city center offers a unique sensorial dive into the wine's universe.
3. Loire Valley
The region, also called "the garden of France" is not only famous for its prestigious castles and gardens but also for its excellent white wines and its sparkling wines that compete with Champagne. Loire Valley is France's third producer. It is home to over 4000 wineries. The region produces among others: Chinon, Saumur, Vouvray, Sancerre & Savignon blanc.
4. Champagne
The region is located approximately two-hours drive est from Paris. It is thus easy to organize a day excursion during your visit to the capital. The region is mainly renown for its sparkling wines, the only sparkling wines authorized to be called "Champagne" due to its location. Originally, the region's wines weren't sparkling wines. It is Dom Pérignon who realized that he could use carbon dioxide and fermentation to make sparkling wine. Discover Reims and its famous Champagne houses such as Mumm, Veuve Cliquot or Pommery, or you might prefer to head south and discover Epernay and its renown houses Mercier, Moët et Chandon. Small and familial producers are also worth a visit.
5. Alsace
Alsace is renown for its Christmas market, ranked as the most beautiful in France, for its typical and picturesque villages and also for its dry or sparkling whine wines. Discover the beautiful Alsace wine route and try some delicious Rieslings, muscat, Pinot Gris, or Gewürztraminers. Start your stay in the charming city of Strasbourg and taste the local gastronomy, a mix between French and German gastronomy.
6. Rhône
The wines of the region are known as Côtes du Rhône wines. Some of them are very expensive wines that are as prestigious as the Bordeaux wines. The Rhône is divided into two wine areas: the Northern Rhône and the Southern Rhône. The northern area produces red wines from the Syrah, sometimes blended with white wine grapes, and white wines from Roussanne, Marsanne and Viognier grapes. The southern area produces an array of red, white and rosé wines, often blends of several grapes such as in Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
7. Languedoc / Occitanie
The Occitanie region, is not one of the most famous region abroad. More appreciated as a summer resort by the locals, it also produces great wines that are getting more and more renown. The mild mediterranean climate of the region make of it one of the largest wine producer of the country. Stay in the charming city Montpellier and enjoy a wine tour in the Pic Saint Loup region.
8. Provence
This beautiful region is mostly famous for its rosé that local people drink cold during summer. Rosé production represents 80% of the region's wine production. You can also find red wines such as the Cabernet Sauvignon, the Syrah, the Cinsault and white wines such as the Clairette and the Grenache. The region is home to many wine domains surrounded by a charming countryside.
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Thank you for reading this! :)
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