Lista regiunilor viticole care trebuie vizitate in Franta

Vinul este produs in toata tara Frantei, dar exista anumite regiuni importante pe care nu trebuie sa le ratezi. Fiecare este cunoscut pentru ambianta si farmecul sau, precum si pentru brandurile sale exclusive cu distributie globala. Francezii produc vin de peste doua mii de ani si considera o afacere serioasa. Intreaga lor cultura incorporeaza abordarea artizanala a viticulturii si insotirea sa delicioasa de soiuri de branza.

La fel ca si contributia lor la artele culinare, au creat un sistem de clasificare care este unul dintre cele mai vechi sisteme de certificare a originii, procese de vinificatie si productie. Institutul National de Appellations d’Origine – INAO, reglementeaza zonele de productie prin definirea caracterului vinului pe care il mesteca. In timp ce exista mii de sate producatoare de vin, acestea se incadreaza in zone specifice cu microclimate consacrate si terenuri care produc gust si calitate consecventa. Iata cateva dintre acestea pentru a explora daca aveti in vedere iesirea din oras pentru excursii de o zi din regiunea vinului din Paris.

Alsacia

Se invecineaza cu Germania, se afla ruta pitoreasca a Alsaciei. Satele populare din Turckheim si Kaysersberg sunt renumite pentru vinurile albe Sylvaners, Rieslings si Gewurztraminer. Alsacia gazduieste unele dintre cele mai frumoase sate oficiale din Franta, inclusiv Riquewihr si Eguisheim. Acest peisaj al cartii de poveste este excelent pentru excursii cu copii.

Bordeaux

Una dintre cele mai faimoase denumiri producatoare de vin. Satele se mandresc cu arhitectura din secolul al 118-lea, cu castele de pe deal , castele medievale, sate pescaresti si statiuni de pe litoral. Merita calatoria pentru a vedea orasul Bordeaux si satul Saint-Emilion – sunt putine zone care pot fi comparate. Fara exceptie, acest lucru ar trebui sa fie pe itinerariul dvs. de calatorie.

Burgundia

Traseul Burgundiei rasuna prin vita de vie si vinariile. Aici veti gasi Grand Cru si strugurii Chardonnay folositi pentru clasicul Chablis. Pentru iubitorii de mancare organica si cruda, aveti specialitatea Burgundy semnata de Coq au Vin realizata cu puii de gama libera din Bresse.

Beaujolais

La sud de regiunea Burgundiei este o zona mai cunoscuta pentru faimosul sau Beaujolais, de un rosu deschis. Satul Beaujeu este o oprire obligatorie in turul tau. Anual, petrecerile de lansare in cea de-a treia joi a lunii noiembrie sarbatoreste noua cultura a lui Beaujolais Nouveau. Vinariile, excursiile cu podgorii, degustarea vinurilor si magazinele de branzeturi sunt la fel pentru cursul in aceasta regiune foarte populara a Frantei.

Sampanie

O regiune de renume international la est de orasul Paris. Are conditii climatice si de sol care sunt coapte pentru succes. Strugurii rosii Pinot noir sunt amestecate cu struguri Chardonnay albi pentru a face fiecare sticla memorabila din acest vin spumant de sarbatoare, un proces care dureaza ani. Adaugati-l pe acesta in excursiile tale de mers pe jos. Obtineti un ghid de calatorie profesional care sa va ajute sa parcurgeti pasii lui Dom Perignon la Abbey d’Hautvillers. Vizitati capitala Champagne, Epernay si faceti un tur in pivnita. Scufundati-va in istoria buburuzelor in Reins, Troyes, Charleville si Sedan.

Cotes du Rhone

Recunoscuta de AOC inca din 1937, aceasta regiune pamanteasca si prafuita se desfasoara de-a lungul raului Rhone, producand soiuri Syrah, Cinsault, Carignan, Mourvedre si Grenache. Peste 95 de sate pot fi gasite in aceasta regiune, dar numai 18 li se permite sa-si puna numele pe eticheta. Printre aceste sate, 4 sunt in Gard, 4 in Drome, iar 10 in Vaucluse. Satul Laudun a fost caminul viilor de peste 2.000 de ani. In timp ce explorezi, luati calea „vita simturilor” care parcurge etapele degustarii. Si, „podgoria timpului”, o imagine de ansamblu asupra practicilor agricole si de productie din aceasta regiune.

Jura

Cunoscut drept cel mai obscur, este situat intre Burgundia si Elvetia. Vinul Jura este „neobisnuit, distinctiv, complet diferit” de oriunde altundeva, cu soiuri de struguri de Chardonnay, Savagnin, Pinot noir, Poulsard, Trousseau. Climatul provocator si recolta tarzie ofera o aroma surprinzator de picanta, de nuci si pamanteasca, creata cu un stil unic de imbatranire. Vin Jaune este cel mai cunoscut vin din Jura. Calatoria in Jura este de numai 2 ore in trenul rapid.

Languedoc

Cultivatorii inovatori si experimentali din Languedoc depasesc ceea ce ii lipseste prestigiul cu caracterul si personalitatea. Cu peste 500.000 de acri de pamant, este cea mai mare suprafata in crestere care cuprinde atat climatul Mediteranei, cat si muntii interni. Soiurile de struguri includ Carignan si Grenache. Bucurati-va de o degustare cu ciocolata langa mare.

Valea Loarei

An abundance of Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc, two white grapes that have made the Loire Valley the second largest sparkling beverage producer in France, after Champagne. With 23 subregions, the villages of Sancerre and Pouilly-sur-Loire (where Pouilly-Fume is made) sit on opposite sides of the Loire River. They enjoy a temperate climate and a soil rich in acidity. The finished product flourishes with a fresh, crisp flavor, a tradition dating back to the Romans. You’ll also find architecture reflective of the Middle Ages, when they first produced Sancerre, a popular blend of white, enjoyed around the world.

Medoc

Also in the Bordeaux region, on the left bank of the Gironde estuary, lies the Medoc. It houses a number of premier appellations with only 14,000 acres of vines that grow and harvest top-shelf Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties. From Grand Cru and Premium Cru, Medoc produces 5 1ers crus, 14 2eme crus, 14 3eme crus, 10 4eme crus, and at least 18 5eme crus. The crafted wines of Medoc are well respected by wealthy connoisseurs around the world. A trip to Medoc will be rewarding.

Provence

On the edge of the Cotes du Rhone AOC is Provence, an appellation that has nine registered sub-regions with many villages and working communes. Located near the Mediterranean coast, the full-bodied red wines of Bandol have been celebrated since the Middle Ages, often paired with chocolate. Cotes-de-Provence is the financial center of this AOC, offering competitively priced rose for its thirsty tourists.

For more information, please refer to the following pages:

The most beautiful wine villages in France
Where to eat authentic French food in Paris

FAQ

What is the closest wine region to Paris?

Although the majority of French wine regions are located far south of Paris, the Champagne region in the northeast is only 200 km away from the city. In fact, Paris has a direct train line to Champagne that takes just 45 minutes, so you do not even need to worry about renting a car. The Champagne region is tucked away in the hills in France’s northeast, making it a scenic wine tasting getaway, and its best-known wine villages are Reims and Epernay. This region is best known for its namesake wine, Champagne, and in the region, you can find famous Champagne wineries such as Moet & Chandon and Tattinger. Many larger wineries, however, do not always offer public tastings, so be sure to check out each winery’s website to ensure that you’ll be able to get in. You can also find plenty of smaller wineries that don’t carry the price tag of major brands, so be sure to do your research before booking a tasting.

Which region is the largest French white wine region?

Although most wine regions in France produce some white wine, the Loire Valley is considered the best and largest white wine region in France. Located south of Paris in northwest France, the Loire Valley is considered one of the most scenic wine regions in the world, and its rich winemaking history led UNESCO to deem parts of the region to its list of World Heritage sites. The Loire Valley is also quite large, spanning over 280 kilometers, so to fully explore the region, you will need to spend multiple days there. In fact, due to its massive size, the Loire Valley is often divided into three regions—Upper, Middle, and Lower. The Upper Loire is known for its Sauvignon Blancs while the Middle and Lower Loire are known for their excellent regional blends. Because the Loire Valley is so expansive and inundated with wineries, we recommend that first-time visitors take a guided tour to get the most out of their stay in the Loire Valley.

How far is Rhone Valley from Paris?

Although you can taste a plethora of delicious wines in Paris, you will need to travel quite far to actually go to the various wine regions in France. For instance, the Rhone Valley, which is famous for its stunning scenery and huge variety of wines produced, is all the way in southern France, roughly 555 kilometers from Paris. To get to the Rhone Valley, then, you will need to travel quite far. If you choose to drive, you will need to be prepared to make a 5-hour cross-country trek into the valley, and if you prefer to not be behind the wheel, you can take a bus to Lyon that takes just as long. If you wish to expedite your arrival, you can opt to take the train into Lyon. While this option can be a bit more expensive than the bus or driving, you will arrive in Lyon in just over two hours.

What are the wine regions of Bordeaux?

The Bordeaux wine region is one of the most famous wine-growing areas in the world thanks to its delicious high-end wines. This famous wine region surrounds the delta of the Gironde River, which feeds into the Atlantic Ocean, and this river delta provides the fertile soil necessary for wine cultivation. Because this wine region is so expansive, it is divided into a series of regions and sub-regions based on their location relative to the Gironde River. First, the Left Bank region includes sub-regions such as Medoc and Graves, which are known for their red wines. Next, the Right Bank is primarily comprised of the Libournais sub-region, which often grows Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignons as well as other reds. The Bourg and Blaye sub-region is also a part of the Right Bank. Finally, the third main region of Bordeaux is Entre-Deux-Mers, which is the only Bordeaux region that primarily specializes in white wines.

Is Burgundy wine region worth visiting?

If you’re a fan of rich history, exquisite wines, delicious food, and stunning scenery, then you should visit the Burgundy wine region in Eastern France. Wine production in Burgundy began during the Roman Empire, making Burgundy one of the oldest wine regions in the world. Many vineyards and wineries in Burgundy offer lessons on the history of winemaking in the region, and you can enjoy historical sites throughout the region’s quaint wine villages. Burgundian wine is also some of the finest in the world, and much of it is made in small batches. So, when you visit a winery in Burgundy, you will be able to taste wines that you will not be able to purchase elsewhere. Burgundy is also home to some of the best traditional French foods and dishes, including coq au vin and Dijon mustard. Finally, Burgundy sits in a stunning river valley with mountains to the east, making for stunning views as you sip a glass of fine pinot noir.

Where to go to visit sparkling wine regions in France?

If you wish to taste sparkling wine in France, then your stop on your journey should be Champagne. Located in the northeast corner of France, this region’s namesake wine is known for its light, bubbly profile, and in this region, you can visit famous producers like Perrier-Jouet and taste some of the finest Champagnes in the world. However, while you can only find proper Champagne in this region, you can find plenty of delicious sparkling wines in other French wine regions. In Burgundy, head southwest of Dijon to Cremant de Bourgogne to taste the region’s best sparkling white and rose wines. Cremant du Jura in the Jura wine region also features delicious sparkling rose wines along with stunning views of the Alpine foothills. Sparkling wine aficionados can also find plenty of bubbly in the Loire Valley. In Vouvray, a small wine village on the banks of the Loire, visitors can enjoy sparkling Chenin Blanc wines, which have uniquely floral aromas and distinct tastes.

Where can you find the best red wine in France?

Most of France’s diverse wine regions produce delicious red wines, but where do the best red wines in France come from? In general, wine afficionados tend to give one of two answers – Bordeaux or Burgundy. The Bordeaux region is the birthplace of Cabernet Sauvignon – a classic French red wine. Some of the finest Cabernet Sauvignons in the world hail from this region, and it also produces excellent Merlots and Red Blends, such as Medoc. Bordeaux is thus well-known for its wide variety of reds as well as their quality. On the other hand, Burgundy is best known for its Pinot Noir – a notoriously difficult wine to produce. Because Pinot Noir grapes require specific environmental conditions to thrive, Burgundy is one of the few places in France where this wine thrives. However, while Burgundy red wine is often high-quality, it is more difficult to find and more expensive than other regions since this wine is so susceptible to environmental changes. Therefore, red wine lovers tend to favor Bordeaux due to its variety and large supply of red wines available.

What are some tips for planning a trip through French wine country?

When you plan a trip through French wine country, you should keep the following tips in mind to ensure that your trip is successful:

First, you should carefully research the hotels that you plan to stay at as well as the drive times between your accommodations and tour bookings. One common mistake that people make is underestimating the time it takes to drive between cities in France, so you should plan well to ensure that you do not overextend yourself by driving too far each day. You should also strategically plan your trip to stay in cities where you can find quality and affordable accommodation.

Second, you should be sure to schedule all of your winery visits in advance, and you should only book 1–3 wine tours or tastings per day, depending on the size of the wineries you choose. You will get more out of your trip if you spend more time at fewer wineries.

Finally, you should have a plan in place to never drink and drive on your trip. Generally, you should hire a driver or designate one, or you can take group tours from larger towns that provide transportation.