French Wines

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Burgundy

The wines of Burgundy are fermented from the black Gamay and Pinot Noir grapes and from the white Chardonnay grape.

The Pinot Noir is one of the oldest grape varieties and can be extremely difficult to grow. Nevertheless, it produce some of our best wines which are full-bodied and rich and which can also be light, soft and velvety at the same time. Wines made from the Pinot noir grape often have an aroma of cherries together with a spiciness that is reminiscent of either mint or cinnamon.

The Chardonnay grape is also a very popular grape which makes light, delicate dry wines with a distinctive aroma which can be difficult to describe but which brings to mind peaches, apples or lemons.

Bordeaux

Bordeaux wines are fermented from the related black Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grapes, found especially in the Medoc district of Bordeaux, as well as from the black Merlot grape.

Cabernet Sauvignon wines improve considerably with age and are frequently seen in a list of the world's great wines. With age the distinctive blackcurrant aroma develops overtones of violets, cedar and leather and theses characteristically deep flavored wines frequently become soft and smooth.

Merlot grape wines are similar to those produced from the Cabernet Sauvignon grape although the aroma and flavor are less distinctive.

Although it may seem odd that white wines should be produced from black grapes, it should be remembered that the juice from both black and white grapes is colorless and it is the skin of the black grape which gives the wine its color.

Rhone

The most commonly seen grape varieties in the Rhone valley are the black Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and the white Muscat grape.

Syrah grapes ferment into intensely rich wines which are almost black in color and which have a spicy aroma. The Rhone Syrah grape is used in many blended wines including Chateauneuf du Pape

The Muscat grape produces intense, sweet wines with a strong aroma which is easily recognizable. Additionally, wines from the Muscat really do taste of grapes - something which is surprisingly rare in a wine.

Loire

Loire grapes include the black Pinot Noir and the white Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc grapes.

The Sauvignon Blanc grape is grown throughout the world today and it is used very widely in blending. In the Loire region itself however it is used to produce a distinctive unblended dry white wine with a characteristically aggressive smell.

Pinot Gris wines frequently produce a floral and lightly lemon flavor and, depending upon how ripe the grapes are when they are harvested, wines which are either light and tangy or rich and full bodied. The Pinot Gris grape makes one of the very few white wines which can be said to age well.

Alsace

The grapes of the Alsace region are similar to those used in the Loire, but growing conditions in this region tend to lead to wines bearing the characteristics of many German rather that French wines.

Wines from the Alsace region are similar to Riesling and the sweeter German wines. Some rosé wines are also made in Alsace.

Champagne

The principle grapes of the Champagne region are the black Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir and the white Chardonnay.

Champagne wines are best described as thin and tart and they provide the perfect base for what most people believe are the world's finest sparkling wines.

Beaujolais

The wines of Beaujolais are fermented from the black Gamay and white Chardonnay grapes.

Beaujolais wines are usually light in nature, fresh tasting and have a slightly fruity flavor. A number of Beaujolais wines are also slightly fizzy in nature.

French wines are some of the world's finest wines and can provide the perfect wine gift.