The Wine Map of France
Are you a wine enthusiast, or even a professional, looking to visualize the greatest French wines on a map? No worries, we're here for you: today, let's discover the Wine Map of France, classified by region with the specialties of each, for your next trips, or simply to have sommelier knowledge at your fingertips!
Wines from Hauts-de-France
In Northern France, there aren't really any winegrowers producing grapes and therefore wine. Indeed, it's primarily a region of France known for beer, not wine, due to the less-than-ideal weather conditions. That said, a company recently decided to plant a vineyard , with the first harvests expected in 2022, yielding around 50,000 bottles â we can't wait!
Wines of Normandy
Normandy has a long and complex history with its vineyards: they disappeared, reappeared, disappeared again... before finally returning after the war, where sommeliers came to replant grapes in large quantities. Today, more than 30,000 bottles are produced there annually, with 7 grape varieties and 6 wines , mostly white, with the exception of Pinot Noir, which is a red wine.
Wines from the Grand Est region
Ah, the great wines of Alsace, among the favorites of the French thanks to Muscat , Pinot Gris , Gewurztraminer, and Riesling. They are all recognized as highly successful wines and are well worth a detour for a tasting if you're in the area. It will be the perfect place for a lover of white or sweet wines, although there is also a small selection of rosés and reds, in addition to sparkling wines.
Wines of Brittany
Brittany is famous for many things: cider, chouchen (a Breton mead), mead... but also its wide variety of wines of all kinds, ranging from sweet wines to rosé, red, and white. If you visit the region, you'll find many artisans and winemakers who will be delighted to let you taste a glass of Muscadet , Gamay Rosé , Gros Plant, or the great specialty of western France, Pinot Noir, which is shared with Normandy and the Loire Valley.
Wines from the Loire Valley
With over 70,000 hectares of vineyards in the Pays de la Loire region, it is one of the largest wine producers in France. Red wines are plentiful, including Pinot Noir (shared with Normandy), Gamay, Cabernet Sauvignon , and Cabernet Franc . That said, white wines are also quite popular there, with Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc being particularly noteworthy.
Wines from the Centre-Val de Loire region
A region at the center of the French Wine Map had to have a great variety in the production of wines offered to the general public: a promise made, a promise kept! There are AOPs which are composed of both white (Sauvignon blanc), red (Pinot noir and Pinot gris), as well as a lot of Gamay.
Wines of Burgundy-Franche-Comté
The defining characteristic of this region is its famous Vin Jaune : very sweet, smooth, and pleasant on the palate, it's the only region to officially call it that. Ideal for enjoying with dessert or a small piece of cheese! You'll also find white wines made from Chardonnay , as well as red and rosé wines, though these are less common.
Wines of Nouvelle-Aquitaine
A region rich in its terroir with numerous AOCs that make more than one person dream, a real paradise for a wine lover who wants to fill their cellar: you will absolutely have to go through Nouvelle-Aquitaine during your trip by following the Wine Map of France!
It includes the Bergerac AOC in the Dordogne, the CĂŽtes de Duras along the Garonne, and Madiran in the Hautes-PyrĂ©nĂ©es. Of course, we mustn't forget the entire Gironde region, which alone encompasses a large number of famous appellations such as MĂ©doc , Graves, Sauternes, Saint-Ămilion , and many more!
Wines from Auvergne-RhĂŽne-Alpes
Here you'll find one of the oldest vineyards in France, boasting a rich history dating back over 2,000 years! This ancient and unique region has developed a total of 79 AOPs ( Appellations d'Origine Protégée), all waiting to be discovered as soon as you visit! There are also many organic and sulfite-free wines produced here, with over 500 winemakers working organically for the benefit of consumers.
Wines of Occitanie
The leading wine-producing region, and therefore an essential part of any French wine map: 263,000 hectares divided into two parts, the southwest (37 hectares) and the Mediterranean area with the remaining 226,000 hectares â quite a lot! It boasts 87 appellations of all kinds, including 51 AOP and 36 IGP, making this region a very influential part of France, renowned for its quality as well as its quantity of production.
Wines from Provence-Alpes-CĂŽte d'Azur
The region where sun and rosé are the watchwords that define Provence and its surroundings! A must-see region to taste the best rosés in the country, as well as the CÎtes du RhÎne appellation, whose reputation around the world needs no further mention.
Corsican wines
Despite its small size, Corsica boasts nearly 9,000 kmÂČ of vineyards, encompassing nine PDOs ( Protected Designations of Origin), with over half being PGIs (Protected Geographical Indications). These include the regional appellation Vins de Corse, the Patrimonio and Ajaccio crus, five village appellations, and a VDN (naturally sweet wine), Muscat du Cap Corse.
In any case, which region is the absolute must-see for you? As you can imagine, it's complicated to simplify a wine map of France with all that the magnificent terroir of each region has to offer. Tell us which wine or winemaker has most impressed you in each region; perhaps they too deserve their own dedicated blog post!
