Catbernet Franc
While the south of France concentrates the vast majority of the French wine production, the north of France is home of some of the most prestigious wine regions, like Burgundy. Reds from Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc and Gamay and whites from Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay or Gewurztraminer gives to each region a distinctive style. Although Pinot Noir might be considered as the most prestigious red grape, not only in France, Cabernet Franc is one of the varieties that is increasingly gaining more visibility due to its capacity to thrive in hotter and drier conditions.
The main wine regions of northern France are:
✤ Burgundy
✤ Beaujolais
✤ Alsace
✤ The Loire Valley
Burgundy: The birthplace of Pinot Noir
Home of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Burgundy sets the standard for this varieties against which all other producers around the world are judged. tHE MAIN REGIONS ARE:
✾ Chablis: On the northernmost part of this region, Chablis is well known for its Chardonnay wine, the only grape permitted
✾ Cote d’Or: at the heart of Burgundy, Côte d’Or is split in two: Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune. While the first accounts for some of the best Pinot noirs around the world, Cote de Beaune is more famous for producing the best wines from Chardonnay in the region.
✾ Maconnais: Chardonnay and Gamay are the main varieties. The majority of the wines are whites from Chardonnay.
✾ Côte Chalonnaise: while the wines of this regions are also made from Chardonnay and Pinot noir, they are considered less prestigious than the ones produced in Côte d’Or
HEY THERE! I’M CATBERNET FRANC, WOULD YOU TO LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ME?
My name comes from the father of Cabernet Sauvignon: Cabernet Franc. This variety can be found in several wine regions around the world but it has a special reputation in the Loire valley, where it produces lighter wines than those from Bordeaux with a great potential for barrel and bottle aging, gaining with the years complex aromas of mushroom and forest floor.
Life in a Loire Chateau is not easy: you need to get up early to keep mice away and I time is very limited: this job is so exhausting than 97% of my time I need to make a pause and rest a little bit. But the love and attention that we get from wine workers makes it worthwile. I’m very fond of them and, whenever they feel under the weather I try to cherish them with a soft purr.
In the picture I’m dressed as a musketeer to show how old this variety is as well as the importance of teamwork in wine production. The castle shows that It was the favourite variety of nobles and kinds and, in a time where water was not always safe to drink, wine played a big role for the birth of French civilisation. As we said, wine for all and all for Wine!
Beaujolais: the house of Gamay
Although in this region the production of red, rosé and white wine is allowed, production is dominated by the red wines made of Gamay. Famous in France for the traditional release of Beaujolais nouveau each month of November, the best examples of Beaujolais are classified as Beaujolais crus.
Alsace: France with a German touch
Alsace: This region is famous for its white wines produced from Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris. The best vineyards (over 50) are classified as Alsace Grand Cru. Production of red wine is also allowed but constitutes only a very small percentage.
MUST HAVE WINES AND SAKE PRODUCTS
CHECK OUT OUR LATEST DEALS!
Loire Valley: Much more than Cabernet Franc
✾ Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé: to the east, two of the most prestigious appellations for Sauvignon Blanc.
✾ Vouvray: East of the city of Tours, it specializes in both still and sparkling Chenin Blanc.
✾ Muscadet Sevre et Marne: Appellation well known for its wines from the variety Melon Blanc. Is the closest to the port of Nantes and has a bigger maritime influence compared to the other Loire regions.
✾ Touraine: Home of the majority of Sauvignon Blanc production.
✾ Chinon, Bourgueil and Saumur-Champigny: Well known for its Cabernet Franc.
✾ Savennieres and Anjou: Around the city of Angers, also well known for its Chenin Blanc.
Looking for places to visit & taste the best wines from the French Wine Regions?
We offer bespoke wine tours worldwide – Get in touch to learn more
