Paradise Rescued was founded by Australian engineer entrepreneur and villager David Stannard in 2010 in the Bordeaux vineyard village of Cardan with the sustainability mission to...
Read MoreWine Regions
France and Its Wine Culture
Culture and identity
Saying that France invented wine would be like saying that water came from France. There are many other countries that make good wine. But in the world of wine, France has an influence that is simply beyond dispute. In fact, there are few countries that have such a powerful and rich impact on their own cultural origin as France does with wine.
France is a country where wine is deeply embedded in the culture and identity of the people. While most of the wines produced in France come from local grapes, varieties originating from other countries have also been historically grown, including Italian varieties like Barolo and Sangiovese.
A grapes grove in the French countryside can excite the senses through sight and smell as well as taste. In a nation as diverse and passionate about wine as France, it is a country where the term terroir may be used with frequency.
France is the world leader in wine production with over 2 million acres of vineyards, making it the most extensive wine-producing nation in the world. France has a long and proud history of wine, which dates back to the Romans when they first planted vineyards.
The most important wine-growing regions in France are classified as Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC). AOC stands for a “protected designation of origin,” and the regulations are strict. Most wines produced in France, even those made from imported varieties of grape, must include in their label the appellation of where it is produced.
There are seven main regions to discover, from the romantic Bordeaux to the often overlooked Alsace, each one with their own characteristics: Bordeaux, Burgundy, Loire, Provence, the Rhone Valley, and Alsace.
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is one of the most famous wine regions in the world, located in southwestern France. The region is known for its diversity in geography, soil, weather, and winemaking tradition, which produces a myriad of wines. Over 90% of Bordeaux wines are red wines made with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
The region is divided into three wine growing areas by the Garonne and the Dordogne rivers: the left bank, the right bank, and Entre-Deux-Mers (the region in between the two rivers). This geographical configuration defines the style of Bordeaux blends and splits Bordeaux into distinctive territories that are must-visit while traveling in the region.
The Left bank area includes the communes of Pauillac, Margaux, Saint-Julien, and Saint-Estèphe, which are known for their Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blends. The Right bank area includes the communes of Saint-Emilion and Pomerol, which are known for their Merlot-dominant blends.
St-Emilion is a wine lover’s paradise, where the story of wine is told through every bottle. From silky Merlots to powerful Cabernet Francs, the wines of St-Emilion are a testament to the region’s rich history and terroir. With the Grand Cru Classé system and rigorous tasting panels, only the highest quality wines make it to the bottle. In St-Emilion, wine is more than just a drink, it’s a way of life.
Château Guibeau
Château Guibeau is a family vineyard for at 5 generations now. This is a 45-ha vineyard made of merlots, cabernets francs, cabernets sauvignons, located in...
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Château Gaubert
Juliette is a young grower, and winemaker in Saint-Emilion Grand Cru since now 7 years. Chateau Gaubert is a family own estate since 1954, her...
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Château Cormeil-Figeac
Victor and Coraline are brother and sister and the 4th generation of their family to work at Cormeil-Figeac on the 25 hectar set in Saint-Emilion....
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Château Tour Calon
Very large underground galleries overlooking one of the highest vineyards in the Saint-Emilion area form the heart of a very original heritage. For five generations,...
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Château Saint-Georges
The history of Saint-Georges goes back to the Gallo-Roman era (4th century) when a splendid villa overlooked the vineyard of the famous Latin poet Ausone....
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Château Chauvin
Château Chauvin, a Grand Cru Classé since 1955, has belonged since 2014 to the Cazes-Régimbeau family, who are also co-owners of the famous Château Lynch-Bages...
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Château Haut-Chaigneau
Bought in ruins in the 70s and rebuilt in the 90s under the inspiration of Tuscan architecture, Château Haut-Chaigneau of Vignobles Chatonnet is a family...
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Chateau Clarisse
Driven by the passion for wine and the taste for challenge, Olivia and Didier Le Calvez have been signing their own wine since 2010 in...
Read MoreThe Loire Valley
The Loire Valley wine region in France is a must-visit destination for wine lovers and travelers alike. With over 87 sub-appellations within the region, it is a diverse and expansive area that produces a wide variety of wines. From Muscadet to Sancerre, the wines of the Loire Valley are known for their unique and food-friendly characteristics.
The region is also famous for its stunning châteaux and historic wineries, making it a perfect destination for those who want to combine wine tasting with sightseeing. The Loire Valley feels quite varied from the foothills of the Massif Central to the hip Port city of Nantes, and the wines vary too.
Domaine de la Villaudière – Jean-Marie Reverdy & Fils
Wine runs through the veins of the Reverdy family. For four generations, the family has been driven by the same values: a hereditary attachment to...
Read MoreBurgundy
Burgundy wine region, located in eastern France, is a place where winemaking traditions have been built throughout the centuries and still present the benchmark of excellence. It can be divided into 5 main wine growing areas: Chablis, Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune, Côte Chalonnaise, and Mâconnais. (There is an open debate if Beaujolais is part of the bigger Burgundy wine region or if it’s a totally distinct wine region.)
The region is known for producing dry red wines made from pinot noir grapes and white wines made from chardonnay grapes.
The soil composition of Burgundy, which consists of limestone and marl, is responsible for creating the coveted minerality of Burgundian wines. The terroir of Burgundy is complex, with each village, vineyard, and every ‘lieu-dit’ displaying an individual expression.
The region is also home to numerous lovely villages from Medieval heritage to the Renaissance, offering beautiful landscapes for visitors to enjoy.
Maison A.Goichot
01 Let’s start with our family It all starts with André-Marcel, our grandfather – what a character he was! We are in Merceuil. In other...
Read MoreAlsace
Alsace is a wine region located in the northeast of France, bordering Germany. The region has a rich cultural diversity, which is reflected in its food, language, and architecture.
Alsace is known for its dry white wines, which are influenced by both French and German winemaking traditions. The wines of Alsace are all about aromas, with floral and peachy smells flying out of the glass.
The region’s cool climate provides the perfect conditions for growing white grapes, which are used to make the region’s signature wines.
Alsace wines offer a rich texture from moderate alcohol, and many of the wines are unctuous enough to pair nicely with savory fowl, like roast quail.
Domaine Sylvie Fahrer et Fils
Winemakers and organic, making Alsace wine since 1932, 4 generations of winemakers. Located in the heart of the Alsace wine Route. We have visits and...
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Domaine Bléger
The Claude & Christophe Bléger estate is located in Orschwiller, center of the Alsace wine route and stronghold of the prestigious Haut Koenigsbourg castle. The...
Read MoreRhone Valley
The Rhône Valley is one of the most ancient wine-growing areas in the world, with vineyards that have been cultivated for more than 2,000 years.
The Rhône river rises in the Alps and flows 120 miles south to the Mediterranean Sea, lending its name to the southern French wine region, the Rhône Valley, and its banks, as well as its major AOC, Côtes du Rhône.
The Rhône Valley is the second biggest appellation in France with 71,000 hectares of vines planted, and only Bordeaux has more vineyards. The region is divided into two categories of wine, ‘Left’ and ‘Right’, which refer to the banks of the Rhône River.
The Northern Rhône Valley is 40 miles long and responsible for a tiny 5% of all the wines from the Rhône region, while the Southern Rhône wine region benefits from a Mediterranean climate and boasts an amazing variety of grapes.
The fertile Rhône Valley is also home to free-range poultry farms, chestnut orchards, and lentil fields, making it a great destination for food and wine lovers alike.
Domaine Clos Romane
In the heart of Provence, in the center of the village of Cairanne, 4 generations of enthusiasts have followed one another on the family farm....
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Domaine Vallot – Le Coriançon
With their founding five generations ago, Domaine Vallot is one of the oldest domaines in the Côtes du Rhône. Their modern business was created by...
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Domaine de la Présidente
Domaine de la Présidente is a family estate located in the hart of the southern Rhône Valley near Avignon. The vineyards are located in the...
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Luyton-Fleury
The Estate LUYTON-FLEURY is located in the nothern Côtes du rhône (Rhône valley). We will welcome you to taste great appellation wines like: – Red...
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Château Turcan
At the heart of an arid terroir dominated by the Mourre Nègre, the estate benefits from an environment particularly favorable to vines. Born in the...
Read MoreProvence
Provence is a wine region located in the South of France, bordered by the Rhone River to the west and the Côte d’Azur on the east.
The region is famous for its rosé wines, but it also produces white and red wines. The climate in Provence is ideal for grape growing, with lots of sunshine and not too much rain, warm days and cool evenings, and the famous “Mistral” wind that keeps the vineyards dry and free of pests.
The region has five appellations, three larger and two smaller, where the grapes are grown. The diversity of the landscapes and soils, as well as the microclimates in the Provence wine region, make it a unique and fascinating place to explore.
Château Clarettes
Château Clarettes is an exceptional estate nestled in the heart of Provence. Founded in 1920, Château Clarettes has experienced a new lease of life in...
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Commanderie de Peyrassol
Home to the Château Peyrassol vineyard and the Philippe Austruy Art Collection, the Commanderie de Peyrassol is an exceptional place in Provence between Marseille and...
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Château Bellini
This domain was established along the Roman road “Via Aurelia” in the heart of Provincia during the 10th Century : long before Giovanni Bellini (the...
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Chateau du Carrubier
The Chateau du Carrubier, in La Londe Les Maures (Var), has been a family estate since 1973. It extends on about 88 hectares, 24 of...
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South West France Wine Region
The South West France wine region is a diverse and unique area that is home to four appellations: Lot River, Tarn-et-Garonne, Bergerac and Dordogne River, and Pyrénées. Each appellation has its own distinct character, climate, and grape varieties.
The region is known for its rare and indigenous grape varieties, which produce diverse flavors. The appellations in South West France are regulated by the Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) and Vin Délimité de Qualité Supérieure (VDQS) designations.
Domaine du Haut Montlong
Haut Montlong wine estate is a family business since 1925. 4th generation of wine maker, Laurence and Philippe are the only owners since 2015. They...
Read MoreLanguedoc-Roussillon
The Languedoc-Roussillon wine region is located in southern France and is the largest wine-producing region in the world, responsible for more than a third of France’s total wine production.
The region spans the Mediterranean coastline from the French border with Spain to the region of Provence and has around 700,000 acres under vines.
The area is known for its blends, with vineyards often called ‘patchwork’ because so many different grape varieties grow together.
Languedoc-Roussillon is also the largest producer of organic wines in France and the biggest producer of IGP and AOC rosé wines in the country, exceeding the production of Provence.
The region has a rich history and culture and has become a welcoming area for foreigners, attracting producers not only from other regions of France but from the world over.
Domaine de Saint Cels
When the richness of a terroir helps you, Imagination becomes a limitless “Land”, giving way to creation and the elaboration of vintages that only ask...
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Château de Luc
The Chateau de Luc, anchored in the heritage of Cathare, is the home of the Fabre family (Louis, Claire, and their children) and the central...
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Domaine Py
The vineyards of Domaine Py are ideally situated on clayey-lime soils on the slopes and plain at the foot of Alaric Mountain influenced by Mediterranean...
Read MoreThe world of French wines is teeming with life. From Champagne to Bordeaux and from Burgundy to Alsace, wine is somehow one of the most important elements of the “Art de vivre à la française” – the French art of living. For example, did you know that in Alsace alone there are 40,000 acres of vineyards? That’s only a drop in the bucket of France’s total land devoted to this art form. With over 400 wine grape varieties and 2,400 appellations (names used to identify wine regions), the French have developed a significant reputation for their viticulture skills, not to mention their legendary culture of fine wine drinking.
If you can’t tell the difference between Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone or Champagne based on the bottle, don’t worry. It’s a passion that takes time and experience to learn.
France is a land that has inspired poets for centuries, it’s no wonder it’s the birthplace of some of our most beloved wines.
That’s why you should forget for a second about the Champagne. The reds, whites and rosés of France are the ones you want to sip. And the best way to discover them is to take a map and organize a trip on the famous Routes du Vin (wine roads) to discover the vineyards, the winemakers, the terroir, and the traditions. You won’t be disappointed.
Paris is nice, but so is Burgundy!
