French wine is a wine that is produced in France’s various wine regions. But remember that every French wine has its unique characteristics, and the area where the wine was made is the critical factor. The country is one of the largest wine producers worldwide and produces around 7-8 billion bottles of wine per year. French winemakers trail only the production of Italian wines while leaving Spanish wine producers behind.
Like Italy, France has a long history of cultivating wine grapes, and its traces date back a few thousand years. While the Celts started making wine before the Romans arrived, the Romans were the ones to plant vines in today’s famous wine regions.
What makes French wine so interesting is that every renowned wine region in France is known for particular grape variety, terroir, and specialty blends. It is also the source of many grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. Today, these grapes are planted in the Old World as well as the New World and enjoy great popularity among wine enthusiasts and casual wine drinkers.
The country in the west of Europe is also home to the powerful appellation system, which legally defines areas where particular grapes must be grown. This system is one of the oldest systems to protect the designation of origin for wine and has set an international standard. High-quality wines can be found in all regions, but some of the most famous French wine regions are Provence, Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne, home to famous champagnes such as Moet & Chandon and Mumm.
Make sure to browse this site to buy French wines. And if you are also looking for wine from other countries or region, beers, or spirits, have an in-depth look at our extensive range. Our spirit section includes vodka, whiskeys, gin, rum, brandy, and liqueurs. In case you don’t want to leave the house we also deliver to your door. Our alcohol delivery services are spread across Australia, and the cities we deliver to include Sydney, Perth, and Brisbane.
Why are French wines more popular?
The reason why French wine is very popular is the fact that all common styles are produced in France. You will find fine red, white, rosé, sparkling, and fortified wines around the country. And they are available from inexpensive wine to high-end luxury wines, which suits every wallet. Besides, a lot of these can age very well, which leads to wine enthusiasts owning cellars full of famous French wine from various vintages. In contrast, most Italian wines are produced to be consumed young.
Also, French monks were the first to identify the importance of terroir, which significantly affects a wine’s taste. This discovery gave France a massive head start to become one of the world’s leading producers of high-quality wines. Many countries joined this elite level considerably later and still try to emulate that. It is no wonder that critically-acclaimed French wine such as Burgundy Grand Cru, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, champagne, and Hermitage are considered the benchmark in the world for most of the noble varieties.
When making wine in New World countries, producers often aim to mimic the Old World’s best wines. And the country looked at most of the time is France with its benchmark regions. This is because many of the highest-quality and most expensive wines in the world come from France. This reputation further cements the popularity of French wine.
What are the best food pairings with French wines?
Another reason for the popularity of French wine is that the French serve their wine with food and barely as a bar wine. This is part of the French food and wine culture. As winemaking is considered an art, winemakers develop their wines with various food paring options in mind. And we all know how good a wine tastes with baguette, a quick lunch in a bistro, or as an accompaniment to a five-course menu. This is considered to be the small luxury of the day for many French.
Matching food and French wine is actually relatively easy if you keep a few things in mind. If you stick to the rule of thumb, then you pair different types of French wine with different food - red wine goes with meat and white wine with seafood or poultry. Be aware of things such as the body of the wine, its acidity, aromas, and flavours because these can have a major impact on your tasting experience. Having said this, France has many great combinations of food and French wine waiting for you to savour.
A sweet white Sauternes from the same region pairs well with blue cheese due to its flavours. Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, which are dry in style, work perfectly with chicken, scallops, lobster, oysters, and shrimps. A refreshing white Muscadet from the Loire Valley can be enjoyed best with some shellfish or mussels fresh from the Ocean.
A red Bordeaux wine is enjoyed best with a lamb dish, while Cabernet Sauvignon is the perfect choice for any beef, venison, and grilled meat. If you treat yourself with some game, roasted duck, or braised meat, make sure to select a bottle of burgundy wine. This wine also matches with the French national dish Coq au Vin. For a stew, choose a red wine from the Rhone Valley as these wines are bold and rich in flavours.
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