French Wine
Burgundy has the most bottles in our French wine, from Petit Chablis to premier cru reds.
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French wine questions
What are France's main wine regions?
The major regions are Bordeaux in the southwest, Burgundy and Beaujolais in the east, Champagne in the northeast, the Loire Valley in the west, the Rhône Valley in the southeast, Alsace near Germany, Provence on the Mediterranean, and Languedoc-Roussillon in the south. The Jura, Savoie and Southwest France are smaller but increasingly popular.
What type of wine is France known for?
France is famous for red Bordeaux, built on cabernet sauvignon and merlot, and red and white Burgundy from pinot noir and chardonnay. Champagne is the benchmark for sparkling wine, and the Loire is known for sauvignon blanc and chenin blanc. Each region has its own style, from Provence rosé to Alsace riesling to Rhône syrah.
Why don't French labels list the grape?
French wine law ties each region to its grapes, so the place name tells you what's inside. White Burgundy is chardonnay, red Burgundy is pinot noir, Sancerre is sauvignon blanc and Beaujolais is gamay. The French also believe terroir, the combination of soil, climate and site, matters more than the grape. Some modern French labels list the grape too.
What does premier cru mean?
It means first growth, but its meaning depends on the region. In Burgundy, premier cru (1er cru) is the second-highest vineyard rank, below grand cru. In Bordeaux, Premier Grand Cru Classé refers to the top châteaux in the 1855 classification, like Lafite and Margaux. In Champagne, it marks villages just below grand cru.