| Are you baffled by the huge variety of French | | | | that white wines should be produced from black |
| wines and completely lost when it comes to | | | | grapes then bear in mind that grape juice, |
| deciding which wine will best suit your needs?Each | | | | whether from black or white grapes, is essentially |
| of the eight wine producing regions of France | | | | colorless and it is the skin of the black grape that |
| specializes in producing wine of a particular type | | | | gives the wine its color.RhoneThe grape varieties |
| and flavor and this simple overview will hopefully | | | | most often seen in the Rhone valley are the black |
| make choosing French wines a little | | | | Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah grapes and the |
| easier.BurgundyBurgundy wines are produced | | | | white Muscat grape.Syrah grapes produce intense |
| from the black Pinot Noir and Gamay grapes and | | | | rich wines which are almost black in color and |
| from the white Chardonnay grape.The Pinot Noir | | | | which have an aroma that is spicy in nature. The |
| is probably one of the world's oldest grape | | | | Rhone Syrah grape forms the base for many |
| varieties and is notoriously difficult to grow. It | | | | blended wines including the well known |
| does however produce some of our best wines | | | | Chateauneuf du PapeThe Muscat grape gives rise |
| which are full-bodied and rich and at the same | | | | to intense, sweet wines with a strong and easily |
| time can be light, soft and velvety. Pinot noir | | | | recognized aroma. In addition, and unusual for a |
| wines often have an aroma of cherries | | | | wine, wines from the Muscat really do taste of |
| accompanied by a spiciness that is reminiscent of | | | | grapes.LoireThe grapes of the Loire include the |
| cinnamon or mint.The Chardonnay grape is a very | | | | black Pinot Noir and the white Sauvignon Blanc and |
| popular grape which produces light, delicate dry | | | | Pinot Gris grapes.The Sauvignon Blanc grape is |
| wines with a distinctive but often difficult to | | | | grown all over the world today and it is very |
| describe aroma conjuring up a vision of apples, | | | | widely used for blending. In the case of the Loire |
| peaches or lemons.BordeauxThe wines of | | | | however it is used to make a distinctive |
| Bordeaux are based upon the related black | | | | unblended dry white wine with a characteristic |
| Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, | | | | sharp and aggressive smell.Pinot Gris wines often |
| found particularly in the Medoc district of | | | | display a slightly floral and lightly lemon flavor and, |
| Bordeaux, and the black Merlot grape.Cabernet | | | | depending upon the ripeness of the grape at |
| Sauvignon wines improve greatly with age and | | | | harvesting, wines that are either light and tangy |
| are often amongst the world's truly great wines. | | | | or rich, round and full bodied. Pinot Gris makes one |
| With age the distinctive blackcurrant aroma of | | | | of the few white wines that can be said to age |
| wines from this grape develops overtones of | | | | well.AlsaceAlthough the grapes of the Alsace are |
| cedar, violets and leather and the wines, which | | | | similar to those used in the Loire, growing |
| are characteristically deep in flavor, often become | | | | conditions in this region tend to produce wines |
| smooth and soft.Wines made from the Merlot | | | | which bear the characteristics of many German |
| grape are very similar to those produced from | | | | rather that French wines.The wines in this region |
| the Cabernet Sauvignon grape but have a less | | | | are similar to Riesling and the sweeter German |
| distinctive aroma and flavor.If it seems strange | | | | wines. |