Types of French Red Wine
France is the home of all great wine except riesling. Its reds are some of the most fabulous and expensive in the world, but it also produces many affordable, good wines. Bottle shapes give a hint to the wines inside: High-shouldered bottles hold Bordeaux, while slope-shouldered bottles hold Burgundy or Rhone wines. Does this Spark an idea?
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Bordeaux
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The vineyards clustered around the Gironde estuary near Bordeaux produce legendary red wine, for which the old-fashioned name is claret. Chateau Latour and Chateau Petrus are only two of the most renowned. Cabernet sauvignon and merlot are the main grapes used.
Burgundy
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France's other superb red wine region lies in the east central part of the country. A small area called the Cote d'Or produces the most sought-after wines, all made from the pinot noir grape but everyday Beaujolais (made from gamay) also is a Burgundy wine.
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The Rhone Valley
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South of Burgundy, the Rhone River's vineyards are the source for expensive Cote Rotie and Hermitage wines. They are made from the syrah grape. The more accessible Chateauneuf du Pape, a blend of many grapes, comes from the southern Rhone area.
The Loire Valley
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Acidic and refreshing reds, like Chinon and Bourgueil, are made from the Loire's cabernet franc grape.
Alsace
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Though very much a white wine region, Alsace does produce some pinot noir.
Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence
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Two of the best-known red wines of these large areas of southern France are Banyuls, a sweet, fortified wine, and Bandol. Bandol is named for its home in Provence.
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