French Wine

The story of French Wine began in the 6th century BC when Greek settlers colonised Southern Gaul, The Roman Empire also licensed some of the South of France to produce Wine.

We can’t leave France without mentioning the creation of Champagne, the story goes that the now world-famous French monk, Dom Pérignon invented Champagne in 1697 and when first tasting it, said these words, “Come quickly, I am tasting the stars!”.

There is also a story that the French don’t like to speak about, that Sparkling Wine was first created at least 30 years earlier in England, with an English scientist discovering Winemakers adding sparkle to their tipple.

The Wine Regions of France

• Champagne
• Bordeaux
• Burgundy
• Languedoc
• The Loire Valley
• Alsace
• Rhône
• Provence
• Corsica

There are over 200 registered grape varieties grown in France, including the following:

• Chardonnay
• Pinot Noir
• Merlot
• Syrah
• Malbec
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Grenache
• Chenin
• Colombard
• Gros Manseng
• Muscat
• Petit Manseng
• Viognier
• Cabernet Franc
• Cinsault
• Gamay Noir
• Grenache Noir
• Marselan
• Mourvèdre

When we look at the Champagne Region, 90% of the Vineyards are owned by more than 15,000 Growers, these small growers can produce their own Champagnes, but often sell their grapes to big Champagne houses, that is why the biggest Champagne producer is Moët & Chandon, producing over 30 million bottles of Champagne a year. You can view the most  comprehensive list of Champagne houses available online here on Glass of Bubbly: Champagne Directory