Bordeaux (bohr-DOH) is a region in the south west of France which many wine enthusiasts
believe that the world's greatest wine is produced. The wonderful wines produced there have been
sought after by wine connoisseurs today, as well as the ancient Romans over 2000 years ago.
Today, well over one half billion bottles are corked there each year.
Rhóne (ROHN) A region of France named after the Rhóne River which flows through it.
The region is found between 2 major cities, Vienne to the north, and Avignon to the south.
Following the river for approximately 120 miles, the Rhóne region produces beautiful, hillside
vineyards that produce wonderful Syrah- and Grenache-based wines.
North (Cote Rotie / Hermitage)GREAT VINTAGES OF RHONE SYRAH
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South (Chateauneuf-du-Pape)GREAT VINTAGES OF RHONE GRANADE & SYRAH
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Burgundy (BER-gun-dee) Even someone who has never tasted a wine before knows that
Burgundy produces amazing wines. Burgundy is located southeast of Paris, France. It is divided up into
five major regions: Chablis, Cóte D'Or, Cóte Chalonnaise, the Macónnais, and Beaujolais. The region
produces many different types of wine, but most predominantly uses 3 types of Grapes. Chardonnay for the
white wines, and Ga may and Pinot Noir for the red wines. A Burgundy Chardonnay or Pinot Noir is
always a great choice to drink.
Red Burgundy
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White Burgundy
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Alsace (Al-Zass) A region of France, located on the German border, nestled between the foothills
of the Vosges Mountains and the Rhine River. Because of its location and due to the political history
of the region, there is a heavy Germanic influence .This can be seen in the use of the traditional German
slender green wine bottles, and the varietals such as Riesling, Sylvaner and Gewürztraminer.
But don't be fooled the Alsatians are French, and so is the wine.
Sauternes (soh-TEHRN) Outstanding sweet wines hail from this district of the Bordeaux Region
of France.Located about 25 miles southeast of the city of Bordeaux, Sauternes primarily grows Sémillon
grapes, but also is home to Sauvignon Blanc and sometimes small amounts of Muscadelle. But it isn't just
the grapes that make these wines gain their amazing sweet flavor, during good vintages, a mold called
Botrytis Cinerea grows on the vines, producing the rich flavors. The noble rot, as it is affectionately called,
shrivels the grapes causing a concentrated taste to eminate during the wine making process. If you enjoy a
sweet dessert wine, with a French touch, than a Sauternes wine is the smart choice.
Champagne (sham-PAYN) True champagne only comes from northernmost wine growing region of France.
Located 90 miles northeast of Paris, Champagne typically grow Pinot Noir, Meunier, and Chardonnay grapes. After
being bottled, the wine is given extra yeast and sugar, which naturally carbonates the wine. If any event
calls for celebration, then Champagne is the wine you need.
Tuscany (TUHS-kun-nee) Surrounding the cities of Florence and Sienna, Tuscany lies in the center of Italy, housing
over 160,000 vineyard acres that produce the famous Chianti wine. Cities such as San Indignant and Florence lie in the
Chianti Region, and almost entirely produce the red wine. Tuscany is famous for two things, wine and art,
and the perfection of each.
Piedmont (Piedmont) Italian for "foot of the mountains," the Piedmont region of Italy lies in the
California The California wine movement began during the period from 1769 to 1823, when Franciscan Monks
began planting vineyards in the state With the states different regions, a multitude of grapes can be grown
producing a plethora of wines including Chardonnay, Syrah, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc
Riesling, and of course Cabernet Sauvignon.
Spain has the most vineyard acres in the world, yet produces the third most volume of wine behind Italy
and France. This is due to much of the land's inability to handle densely planted vines. Spanish
wines traditionally are high-alcohol, full bodied wines like famous Rioja style.
Australia Australian wines really hit the mainstream in the 1950's. By the 80's Australia was a world power in the wine
world, and it was lead by the Shiraz (Syrah) wine. Other Australian wine varieties include Pinot Noir, Riesling,
Chardonnay, Cabernet, and Sauvignon Blanc.
Germany holds a different view on wine than other countries. This is due to the fact that unlike France and
Italy, they are not focused on wine, they prefer beer. In fact, Germany is a negative producer, that is,
it consumes more wine than it produces. But what it does produce, it does well. Germany's main
wine production includes the Riesling, Müller-Thurgau and Sylvaner grapes.