Attributes:

Le Grand Noir

France

Viognier

750 ML

2004: WineSpectator Rating: 78

smoky

Food Matches:

France is the standard bearer for all the world’s wines, with regard to the types of grapes that are used to make wine and with the system of defining and regulating winemaking. Its Appellation d’Origine Controlee, or AOC system, is the legislative model for most other European countries. Most French wines are named after places. The system is hierarchical; generally the smaller and more specific the region for which a wine is named, the higher its rank. There are four possible ranks of French wine, and each is always stated on the label: Appellation Contrôlée (or AOC), Vin Délimité de Qualité Supérieure (or VDQS); Vin de pays, or country wine; and Vin de table. France has five major wine regions, although there are several others that make interesting wines. The three major regions for red wine are Bordeaux, Burgundy, and the Rhone; for white wines, the regions are Burgundy, the Loire and Alsace. Each region specialized in certain grape varieties for its wines, based on climate, soil, and local tradition. Two other significant French wine regions are Provence and Languedoc-Roussillon, both in the south of France. Cahors, in the southwest of the country, produces increasingly good wines.

(vee oh nyay)—A grape from France’s Rhone Valley that is becoming popular in California and the south of France. The floral aroma and delicate apricot flavors that characterize the medium to full-bodied wine are due to low acidity.

Attributes:

La Forge

Languedoc-Roussillon, France

Sauvignon Blanc

750 ML

Food Matches:

Comes mostly from California, France, New Zealand, and South Africa. Its highly acidic wines are often suggestive of herbs or grass. Light to medium bodied and usually dry, European versions are generally not oaky while California Sauvignon Blanc can take on many of the qualities of Chardonnay. France has two classic wine regions for the Sauvignon Blanc gape: Bordeaux and the Loire Valley The Bordeaux wine is called Bordeaux Blanc and the two best known of the Loire wines are called Sancerre or Pouilly-Fumé. In Bordeaux, Sauvignon Blanc is sometimes blended with Sémillon.

A common name for the varied array of vineyards of southern France spreading from Marseille to the Spanish border. Languedoc-Roussillon lies on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and is Frances most valued wine region in regards to volume of wine produced. Most of the vines in the region are planted on flat alluvial plains. The climate of region is Mediterranean in all areas except for the far western limits. The main Grape of region is the Carigan with Grenache close behind it. The main white variety is the chardonnay.

Attributes:

La Forge

Languedoc-Roussillon, France

Marsanne

750 ML

Food Matches:

A common name for the varied array of vineyards of southern France spreading from Marseille to the Spanish border. Languedoc-Roussillon lies on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and is Frances most valued wine region in regards to volume of wine produced. Most of the vines in the region are planted on flat alluvial plains. The climate of region is Mediterranean in all areas except for the far western limits. The main Grape of region is the Carigan with Grenache close behind it. The main white variety is the chardonnay.