About French Wines

France is second only to Spain as the largest wine producer in the world. It makes more than 34 percent of the world's wine exports. Why is French wine so good? There is not one exact answer to that question. Some would say it's the distinct skills of each French winemaker, which might include the fermentation type and time, fermentation container or the selection of just the right grape for the right region. Others say it is the "terroir," which refers to a combination of natural factors that makes the wine regions excellent producers for some of the best wines in the world. Most likely, it is a combination of these factors that makes French wines so popular and well respected.

History

Wine production goes back to the 6th century BC, when the Greeks settled in France (when it was a region called Gaul). By the Middle Ages, it was the monks who maintained the best vineyards and who had conserved the wine-making knowledge of France. During the French Revolution, most church vineyards were taken over by nobility. French wine had an abrupt downturn, in the 1860s, when mildew and phylloxera (pests that feed on grape vines) spread throughout their vineyards. The industry suffered through 2 world wars, while competition grew. When the vineyards began to reach their high standards once again, the Appellation d'Origine Controlee (controlled term of origin) was put into effect by the French government, to protect its wine industry. It promised defined standards, with labeling criteria for proof of quality.

Regions

The Institut National des Appellations d'Origine (INAO), the governmental agency presiding over the Appellation d'Origine Controlee, controls the wine criteria in France. If a particular wine does not meet the required standards, it is relegated to a lower class. Wines are also classified by the INAO by regions. The main regions are: Alsace (makes dry and sweet white wines with grapes grown no where else but in Alsace); Bordeaux (produces red wines of high quality and a few white wines); Burgundy (uses Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes for their wines); Rhone (the most diverse vineyard area, producing both red and white wines); and Lorie (produces mostly white wines from Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon grapes).

Terroir

The word "terroir" is used often in the description of French wines. It refers to the natural factors of a particular French region's vineyards. It is believed that the growing region directly coincides with the quality of the wine. These factors include the soil quality, climate and topography (land surface or terrain). Terroir is sometimes expanded in definition to include human-influenced controls. These would include how the grapes are handled, grape harvesting and process of fermentation.

Classifications

In accordance with the INAO, wines in France are classified, in addition to the terrior and region, according to their grade (or quality), most importantly of all. There are 4 primary grades. The AOC (Appellation d'Origine Controlee) grade covers France's highest-ranked wines, and the grape-growing region always appears on the label. The VDQS (Vins De Limites de Qualite Superieure) grade contain wines that are good but not the best. The Vin de Pays (country wines) grade covers the best French wines for the price. The Vin de Table (table wine) group is the lowest grade of French wine.

Types

There are 2 basic types of wine, red and white. Rose wine is made from red grapes. The most popular types of French white wines are Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Muscadet, Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Semillon, White Burgundy, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc. The most popular French red wines are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Grenache, Cinsault, Merlot, Syrah and Pinot Noir.