Have you ever wondered if French wine actually stands apart from other wines in any way? Those who have discovered one of the three most popular French wines feel that there is a unique difference. Petrus, Romanee Conti, and Château Margaux have gained world wide recognition for being the most appreciated French wines on the market. French wines are often identified just as much by their terroir as they are by other features. A terroir is simply a region of land that can be counted on to produce similar crops because the soil and the weather are the same. Additionally, wines that share the same terroir also are produced from the same type of grapes and the same wine making process. This means that there will be ample similarities in the wines.

Some French wines have the word “cote” on the bottle, which directly translated means “hill.” What does this have to do with the quality of the wine? It means that the grapes that were used in the wine’s creation were grown on a hill which helps drain the grape vines. Additionally, these hills are facing the South or Southwest in order to provide the grapes with a longer daily period of sunlight.

France also integrates a rating system to help distinguish the quality of the wine. The best grade a wine can receive is AOC, which interprets to Appellation d’Origine Controlee. This means that the origin of the wine is tightly regulated. VDQS mean that the wine is delimited and is of excellent or even superior quality. Vin de Pays are assigned to wines that cover a large spectrum. They are not necessarily high class wines but they are not the bottom shelf wines, either. These wines are generally considered to be of reasonable quality or better, a good value, and are popular among the working class. Vin de Table indicates the wine is akin to a table wine and is not considered to be of very high quality. These codes can be found when reading the labels of all French wines.

Related posts:

1. Italian Wines
2. Spanish Wines
3. German Wines