Wine — Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne

France is the motherland of wine. With an annual production of around 46 million hectoliters, it competes with Italy for the title of the world's largest wine producer. Yet France has something that no other country offers in such density: a centuries-old system of Appellations (designations of origin) that classifies every vineyard, every slope, and every soil.

The Great Wine Regions

• Bordeaux — the most famous wine region in the world. Left Bank (Médoc, Graves): Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated, long-lasting, tannin-rich. Right Bank (Saint-Émilion, Pomerol): Merlot-dominated, softer, fuller. The 1855 classification with the five Premiers Crus (Lafite, Latour, Margaux, Haut-Brion, Mouton) still holds
• Burgundy — the paradox: Tiny plots, a single grape variety (Pinot Noir for red, Chardonnay for white), astronomical prices. The Climats (individual plots) have been a UNESCO World Heritage since 2015. A Grand Cru from Romanée-Conti can reach five-figure sums per bottle
• Champagne — only sparkling wine from Champagne may be called Champagne. The Méthode champenoise (bottle fermentation) was perfected in the 17th century and is legally protected. Major houses: Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, Dom Pérignon, Krug, Bollinger
• Rhône Valley — Northern Rhône (Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie): pure Syrah, powerful. Southern Rhône (Châteauneuf-du-Pape): Grenache-based blends, warm and spicy
• Alsace — aromatic white wines (Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris) in slender bottles. The only major French region that lists grape varieties on the label
• Loire — elegant Sauvignon Blanc (Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé), top-notch Chenin Blanc (Vouvray), light Cabernet Franc (Chinon)
• Provence — the Rosé capital of the world. The pale pink, dry Rosé of Provence has conquered the wine world

AOP/AOC (Appellation d'Origine Protégée/Contrôlée) guarantees origin, grape varieties, and production method. Above that is the Vin de France classification for simpler wines. In restaurants, a glass of decent wine costs from €4, a bottle from €18. In supermarkets, you can find excellent wines starting at €5.