Wine Styles
Wine Styles & Grape Types
All common styles of wine - red, rose, white, sparkling, and fortified - are produced in France. In most of these styles, the French production ranges from cheap and simple versions to some of the world's most famous and expensive examples. An exception is French fortified wines, which tend to be relatively unknown outside France.
Numerous grape varieties are cultivated in France, including both internationally well-known and obscure local varieties. In fact, most of the so-called 'international varieties' are of French origin, or became known and spread because of their cultivation in France. Since French appellation rules generally restrict wines from each region, district or appellation to a small number of allowed grape varieties, there are in principle no varieties that are commonly planted throughout all of France.
Most varieties of grape are primarily associated with a certain region, such as Cabernet Sauvignon in Bordeaux and Syrah in Rhone, although there are some varieties that are found in two or more regions, such as Chardonnay in Burgundy and Champagne, and Sauvignon Blanc in Loire and Bordeaux. As an example of rules, although climatic conditions would appear to be favourable, no Cabernet Sauvignon wines a produced in Rhone, Riesling wine in Loire, or Chardonnay wines in Bordeaux.
Traditionally, many French wines have been blended from several grape varieties. Varietal white wines have been, and still are, more common that varietal red wines.
In many respects, French wines have more of a regional than a national identity, as evidenced by different grape varieties, production methods and different classification systems in the various regions. Quality levels and prices vary enormously, and some wines are made for immediate consumption while other are meant for long-time cellaring.
If there is one thing that most French wines have in common, it is that most styles have developed as wines to accompany food, be it a quick baguette, a simple bistro meal, or a full-fledged multi-course menu. Since the French tradition is to serve wine with food, wines have seldom been developed or styled as 'bar wines' for drinking on their own, or to impress in tastings when young.
Terroir
The concept of Terroir, which refers to the unique combination of natural factors associated with any particular vineyard, is important to French vignerons. It includes such factors as soil, underlying rock, altitude, slope of hill or terrain, orientation toward the sun, and microclimate. Even in the same area, no two vineyards have exactly the same terroir, thus being the base of the AOC system that has been model for appellation and wine laws across the globe. In other words, when the same grape variety is planted in different regions, it can produce wines that are significantly different from each other. In France, the concept of terroir manifests itself most extremely in the Burgundy region. The amount of influence and the scope that falls under the description of terroir has been a controversial topic in the wine industry.
