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Good French wine: history and regions
France can be considered a great wine power without a shadow of a doubt. It is on its territory that magnificent grape varieties grow, and the world-famous wines of France have absorbed all the best.
The unsurpassed nobility of Bordeaux
The Bordeaux region is a legend in the flesh, and good French wines should be sought here. For centuries, they have been created from selected grape varieties: “merlot”, “malbec”, “Cabernet Franc” and “Cabernet Sauvignon”. Red wines of deep ruby shades are characterized by a silky texture and a multi-faceted taste with dominant fruit motifs. You can fully enjoy them with red meat dishes and cheeses with mold. The jewel of the collection is the Chateau Margot wines — one of the most elite in the world. The richest bouquet combines soft berry accents, delicate floral shades and exciting spicy nuances. These wines are perfectly combined with cold meats, veal and hard cheeses. White Bordeaux wines from the Semillon and Muscadelle grapes enchant with invigorating citrus notes, variations of white flowers and honey. The classic pair for such wines is white fish and seafood.
Burgundy-paradise for gourmets
On the fertile lands of Burgundy, the grapes “chardonnay” and “aligote” grow, giving life to premium white French wines. Chablis wines have gained fame for their fresh, harmonious taste with hints of apple, pear, peach and a long, sweet aftertaste. White fish, mussels and oysters, cream and goat cheeses will help you feel it in all its glory. We should also mention the “Pascal Bouchard” of the grand category. These wines of amazing straw shades have a piquant taste with notes of tropical fruits and a light citrus bitterness. They are excellent as an aperitif. However, with fish, sausages and aged cheeses, they also look good. Young red Beaujolais wines are made from an unusual grape”gamay”. The soft, silky taste has fruity notes with pleasant berry notes. It is recommended to serve such drinks with fried meat, game and poultry.
The dazzling magic of Champagne
Champagne gave the world sparkling wines-a symbol of celebration and fun. For their production, Pinot noir, Pinot meunier and chardonnay grapes are used. One of the gems of the collection is the white sparkling wine “Blanc de Blanc”. The soft taste fascinates with citrus notes, hints of almonds and fresh muffins. Oysters, fried sea tongue, and veal minions will highlight it best. White dry champagne “Moet and Shandon” — another wine hit. The intense bouquet is full of notes of exotic fruits, refreshing berry and subtle nutty motifs. These drinks go well with prawns, brie cheese and sweet fruit. The local pink French wine stuns with a fireworks display of flavors. Ripe pears, juicy peaches, fragrant strawberries and tart currants sound especially bright in the frame of sparkling bubbles. It is best to complement this wine with a light dessert of fruit.
Wonders of the Loire Valley
Legend has it that the first vine in the Loire Valley was carefully planted by Saint Martin in 380. This is how the local French red wines were born. They are distinguished by a rich berry bouquet with spicy and floral nuances. These wines will successfully complement grilled dishes, game and mature cheeses. “Grollo” – the rarest grape variety, which is grown only in the Loire Valley. Most often it can be found in dry rose wines. Their bouquet is dominated by fruity notes combined with light mint shades. These versatile wines are in harmony with any dish, be it meat, seafood, poultry or vegetables. The “Chenin Blanc” grape, praised by Francois Rabelais — is the basis for fine sweet wines. In them you can find a whole palette of flavors, from classic berry combinations to bold exotic variations. They are organic both on their own and in a duet with fruits and soft cheeses.
The enduring heritage of Provence
The classification of French wines would be incomplete without Provence. The first grape harvest appeared here in the VI century BC. e. through the efforts of Greek colonists. Today, a rich range of grape varieties is grown here: “syrah”, “sauvignon”, “claret”, “grenache”, “bourboulan”, “mourvedre”. Connoisseurs of red varieties are attracted to dry wines “Bandol”. The multi-faceted bouquet is full of berry and spicy motifs with coniferous notes. Such drinks are perfectly suited to game and red meat. Pink varieties can compete with red wines. They have a silky fruity taste and a refined sweetness. Fish dishes and pasta with seafood are the best addition to them. Among the white varieties, the Cote de Provence wines are highly valued. The refreshing bouquet enchants with notes of grapefruit and pineapple, set off by delicate honey nuances. It is best revealed in the company of seafood and white meat.
What kind of wine to bring from France is a rhetorical question. But in any case, it is impossible to make a mistake with the choice. After all, real French wines are works of art, magnificent and incomparable.
See also:
Wine Guide to Spain
Exploring the wine list of Italy