Discover the Terroirs: A guide to French Wine Regions
Alsace
Bordeaux
Burgandy
Beaujolais
Champagne
Jura
Loire Valley
Provence
Rhône Valley
Savoie
Languedoc
South West
France has diverse terroirs, ancient vineyards, and a unique climate that produces the most spectacular grape varieties. This has enabled the French wine regions to create some of the most sought-after vintages. From Bordeaux and Burgundy, Champagne and Beaujolais to Pinot Noir and Chablis wine. There is a vintage for every palate.
While the manufacturing process plays a crucial role, the coveted characteristics of French wines – flavor profiles, aromas, complexity, body, and balance—come down to the growing region. Due to complex terroir, France has diverse wine regions that range from sun-bathed Bordeaux vineyards to the Rhone Valley’s dramatic slopes and Burgundy’s romantic hillsides.
French Wine Regions FAQs
What are the best wine regions in France?
Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone Valley, Champagne, and Loire Valley are some of the best wine regions in France. These regions are renowned for unique terroirs that produce distinctive wines.
What is the wine capital of France?
Bordeaux, a major city in the southwest, is often considered the wine capital of France. This prominent wine region is renowned for the prestigious wines Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It’s synonymous with the grand chateaux, picturesque vineyards, and centuries-old winemaking heritage.
What is the most popular French wine?
Bordeaux is undoubtedly the most popular French wine in the world. Almost 90% of Bordeaux wine is red and made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Carmenere, and Malbec grape varieties.
Which region produces the most wine?
With over 700,000 acres of vineyards, Languedoc Roussillon in Southern France is the largest wine-producing region in the world. The region produces one in three French wines.
What is the oldest wine region in France?
With a history dating back 2,600 years, Provence in southern eastern France is considered the oldest wine region in France. It’s renowned for its refreshing and dry rose wines. The Mediterranean climate and diverse terroirs give the Provence wines a distinctive character.
French wine country, highlighting the most prominent and captivating wine regions and their signature offerings.
Alsace
Signature Wine:
Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris
Climate and Terrain:
Alsace enjoys a continental climate, where winters are cold, while the summers are hot, dry, and sunny. Due to the Vosges Mountains sheltering the region and creating a rain shadow effect, Alsace has very little rainfall. The terrain comprises of steep slopes with unique soils with most vineyards facing east or southeast.
Grapes
Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Muscat
Bordeaux
Signature Wine:
Bordeaux blends—Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
Climate and Terrain:
Bordeaux has a temperate, oceanic climate with mild winters and warm summers dues to the region’s proximity to the Gulf Stream and Atlantic Ocean. The region comprises of well-drained gravelly soils—commonly known as “graves”—and is ideal for red wine production. The Gironde River divides the region into the right and left bank and most of the vineyards are set on south-facing slopes. Left bank has gravel soil while Right bank has limestone and clay soil.
A five tier classification system divides the Bordeaux wine region into five Grands Crus Classés. The prestigious classification dates back to 1855 and remains the benchmark for quality wine.
Grapes:
Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon.
Burgandy
Signature Wine:
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
Climate And Terrain:
Burgundy’s climate is mainly continental with long, harsh winters and hot, sunny summers. The region comprises of gentle rolling hills with clay-limestone soil with most vineyards set along the north-south fault.
Grapes:
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
Burgundy uses a 4-level classification system—regional, village, premier cru, and grand cru appellations—to reflect the quality and prestige of each of its 900 climats.
Beaujolais
Signature Wine:
Beaujolais Nouveau—light-bodied, fruity wines
Climate And Terrain:
Beaujolais enjoys a semi-continental climate with mild winters and warm summers. Vineyards in the North are set on hillsides while those in the south are on a much flatter terrain. The granite and schist soil produces fleshy, deeply, and thickly textured grapes.
Grapes:
Gamay
Beaujolais Nouveau is a light, youthful red wine with a short lifecycle. It’s released on the 3rd Thursday of November, just weeks after harvesting the grapes. The region also uses a 3-tier classification system—Beaujolais AOC, Beaujolais-Villages AOC, and the ten Beaujolais Crus to assign wine quality. The area is renowned for its friendliness and celebration of wine, and the releases of Beaujolais Nouveau are marked with worldwide festivities and events.
Champagne
Signature Wine:
Champagne
Climate And Terrain:
The Champagne region experiences a dual climate with oceanic and continental influences. The summers are mild and the winters range from mild to extremely cold due to its northern location. The region is characterized by vine-covered hillsides and the terroir comprises of chalky soil with excellent drainage that gives the champagne its distinctive characteristics.
Grapes:
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
Champagne’s famous effervescence, results from a secondary fermentation that releases carbon dioxide after bottling the wine. Champagne producers delicately add a dose of ‘liqueur de tirage’ into the cuvee with the still wine before it’s bottled to facilitate a secondary fermentation that allows bubbles to form in a sealed bottle. Champagne is a unique product produced only in the Champagne wine region in France.
Jura
Signature wine:
Vin Jaune
Climate And Terrain:
Jura has a continental climate and diverse soils, including limestone and crystalline schist. Most vineyards are found on terraced slopes at altitudes between 820 and 1,310 feet to ensure ideal sun exposure and soil drainage.
Grapes:
Savagnin, Pinot Noir, Poulsard, Trousseau, Chardonnay
Loire Valley
Signature wine:
Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc
Climate And Terrain:
Loire Valley’s climate varies from maritime influences near the Atlantic coast to continental influences further inland. It comprises of four wine regions—Lower, Middle, Centre, and Upper Loire with terrain that ranges from flat landscapes to hilly western facing slopes. The terroir ranges from limestone to clay and flint.
Grapes:
Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Melon de Bourgogne, and Gamay.
The Loire Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the region produces world-famous whites, fruit-forward reds, refreshing roses, and sparkling wines.
Provence
Signature wine:
Rosé
Climate And Terrain:
Provence enjoys a Mediterranean climate with hot and dry summers. It has a warm microclimate that benefits from sun exposure and cooling Mistral winds. The terrain ranges from flat plains in the Rhone Valley to mountain slopes in the east and marshlands in the south. The terroir includes clay, limestone, and schist soil.
Grapes:
Mourvèdre, Grenache, Cinsault, Ugni Blanc, Rolle (Vermentino), Altesse.
Provence is the oldest wine-producing region in France and is home to skilled winemakers specializing in making rose wine. They practice direct pressing to extract subtle flavors while retaining the delicate pink color from the red grapes soon after harvesting.
Rhône Valley
Signature wine:
Syrah (Northern Rhône) and Grenache (Southern Rhône)
Climate And Terrain:
The Rhône Valley has a continental climate in the north and Mediterranean in the south. It’s divided into two distinct sub-regions—Northern and Southern Rhône. Northern Rhone is famed for its steep slope, granite soils, and prestigious Syrah-based wines. Southern Rhone has a more diversified terroir and predominantly produces Grenache wine blends.
Grapes:
Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne
The granitic soil in the north and the rounded pebbles in the south, impart specific structure and flavors, giving the wines distinct styles and expressions. The wines age well, and producers often hold some back for extra complexity.
Savoie
Signature wine:
Jacquère and Altesse (Roussette)
Climate And Terrain:
Savoie is nestled in the French Alps in eastern France. Due to its proximity to the French Alps, Savoie has a cool alpine climate, with the landscape comprising of steep, mountainous terrain. The vineyards are perched on slopes to maximize sun exposure.
Grapes:
Jacquère, Altesse, Chasselas, Mondeuse, Gamay.
Jacquère wines are known for their delicate floral aromas, vibrant acidity, and mineral notes. The region produces fresh, lively, mineral-driven white wines reflecting the alpine terroir. Due to the steep slopes, most vineyards are worked by hand, which gives the wines a distinct character when combined with the region’s indigenous grape varieties. South West winemakers use traditional methods to produce “Crémant de Savoie” sparkling wines that make a delightful alternative to champagnes.
Languedoc-Roussillon
Signature wine:
Languedoc AOC and Roussillon reds.
Climate And Terrain:
The Languedoc-Roussillon region experiences a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters. A coastal influence helps moderate the temperatures. The terrain ranges from coastal plains to hilly and mountainous areas, and the soil includes well-drained limestone, clay, schist, and gravel.
Grapes:
Carigan, Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, and Viognier
Languedoc-Roussillon’s vast acreage makes it the largest wine-producing region in France. The varied landscapes and soils give rise to diverse terroirs, allowing winemakers to produce distinct wines with specific terroir influences.
South West
Signature wine:
Cahors, Madiran, Jurancon, and Gaillac
Climate And Terrain:
The South West Region has a diverse landscape and terrain due to its expansive size. The region experiences a temperate climate modulated by the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The Atlantic influences the western areas, while the eastern regions have a distinct Mediterranean influence. The terrain covers slopes, hills, river basins, and valleys, creating diverse microclimates with equally diverse soil types.
Grapes:
Malbec, Tannat, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Gros Manseng, Mauzac, Colombard
The South West region stands out from other French Wine Regions for its rare and indigenous grape varieties that are unavailable elsewhere. The wine styles range from robust and structured reds to aromatic whites and sweet wines. Winemakers in the South West region prioritize traditional winemaking, contributing to the region’s rich cultural heritage.