Posts Tagged ‘dessert wine’

There are many different fine wines from France. Known as the wine capital of the world, France boasts many delectable wines that people from all over the world enjoy. Most fine wines from France are named after the region they come from, though there are some which take their root from French words, such as Pinot Noir.

Some of the best fine wines from France include Pinot Blanc from the region of Alsace, Bordeaux, the Corton from the Burgundy regions, Champagne, the Merlot and Chardonnay from the Languedoc-Roussillon region, the Chenin Blanc and Pinot Noir from the Loire regions, and the Carignan and Clairette wines from the Rhone regions.

The Pinot Blanc is a full-bodied white wine grape, its origins coming from the well known Pinot Noir. The majority of these grapes are grown in the Alsace region. It’s complexion while on the vine is said to resemble that of the Chardonnay grape. Lamb, beef, or some soft cheeses go well with the Pinot Blanc.

The Corton is a Grand Cru wine. It can be made into a white and red wine, the red wine variety being one of the most powerful of the Cote de Beaune reds. This is not for early drinking, as it goes better with that of later dinner parties.

The Merlot is a red wine grape. It is one of the most popular of the fine wines of France, especially in the United States. This wine dates all the way back to the late eighteenth century. Pastas, stews, and duck go well with Merlot.

The Chardonnay is a white wine grape, grown almost anywhere wine is made. It is used in a variety of sparkling wines. The Chardonnay is the second most widely grown white grape in all of France, just behind Ugni Blanc. It goes quite nice with roast chicken or turkey.

The Chenin Blanc is a white wine grape. It is of a great variety, used to make anything from a dry wine to a dessert wine. In France, this is one of the more expensive wines, but is well worth the cost. The Chenin Blanc goes well with sushi and pork.

The Carignan is a red wine grape. It is blended with many different wines, including the aforementioned Merlot. It has many different flavors and aromas, including cherry and strawberry.

The Clairette is a white wine grape. It is one of the oldest of the southern grape varieties. Unlike some of the previous wines, this one is high in alcohol and low in acidity.

Whether you are looking for a white wine or a red wine, a dry wine or a dessert wine, this list of some of the finest wines from France is sure to delight the taste buds of anyone wanting to dabble in the tasting of a delicious wine.

Author: Ian Pennington
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Make PCB Assembly

Last spring I was invited on a wine-lovers dream vacation – a tour of several major wine regions to barrel sample the latest vintage. The French believe the 2005 vintage could be the best in 40 years. As this is occurring now for the 2006 vintage (and is an annual event), I thought this experience is worth sharing.

Our first visit was to the Rhone Valley. Northern Rhone is mountainous and has steep vineyards. The primary red grape is Syrah, with bold, spicy and peppery notes. We visited Domaine Vernay and were treated to outstanding 2003 – 2005 vintages of Syrah. We had in-depth conversations concerning proper root stock height, techniques to force the roots to grow deep down into the soil, leaf purging, trellising the new shoots and the use of organic fertilizers. Grape growing, after all, is farming.

Next we traveled to the Chateauneuf-du-Pape region in Southern Rhone. We visited Chateau Domaine Berthert-Nayme, where the vineyards are literally covered with round, baseball-sized limestone from the nearby Rhone River. The friendly Chateau owners generously treated us to a sumptuous dinner. To reciprocate their hospitality, last October, the same Chateau owners were in the United States for an extensive wine tour and we were pleased to entertain them at our home. That evening, we enjoyed American fare and a selection of local and California wines.

Heading west toward Bordeaux, we traveled to the Cahors region and visited the Clos Triguedina winery, whose wines have been used by President Chirac for state dinners. They make a wonderful red with 100 percent malbec grapes called Prince Probus, an elegant white dessert wine and a specialty wine using ancient wine-making method which dries the grapes in an oven before the fermentation process. This darkens the color, concentrates the flavors and is aptly named Black Wine.

For our second week, we traveled to Bordeaux, divided by the Gironde River into two major wine regions. The left bank includes the Medoc and Graves regions featuring cabernet sauvignon. The right bank is primarily the St. Emilion region which focuses on merlot.

We started our Bordeaux tour in St. Emilion at Chateau Cantenac. Other local wineries toured included Chateaus Ausone, Cheval Blanc and Angelus. Of these, I was struck by the sheer elegance and silky texture of Cheval Blanc and the layers of black fruit in Chateau Angelus’ wine. These were two of my favorites.

To give us an overview of the 2005 Bordeaux vintage, we visited several leading wine wholesalers. As some tasting rooms had samples from literally hundreds of Chateaus (wineries), I asked the staff to please show me the top 20 in the room to narrow the field. You had to constantly use spit buckets to survive. In general, the 2005 vintage is big, tannic and has layers of fruit. It should prove to be a great vintage.

We started our left bank tour in the Northern Medoc region and worked our way south. The appellations we covered included St. Estephe, Pauillac, St. Julien, Margaux, Graves, Pessac-Leognan and Sauternes. We visited from four to eight wineries per day. Probably our most impressive single day included Chateaus Latour, Lafite-Rothschild, Haut-Brion and Chateau d’Yquem. Without question, these are some of the best wines I have ever tasted.

The Chateaus themselves were magnificent and some were virtual works of art. I can better appreciate the sense of pride the French feel towards their wine industry, with its rich history and tradition. I was truly barreled over in France by their architecture, culture, cuisine, warm hospitality and the 2005 vintage. Magnificent!

As this trip covered wines ranging from Rhone’s, dessert wines and Bordeauxs, their diversity does not allow for specific food pairings nor specific recommendations this month.

Please visit your local wine merchant and ask for their recommendations. The 2005 vintage is probably not yet available, but the 2000 and 2003 vintages were excellent. The only current vintage that is average/below average is the 2002 vintage.

Author: Bill Garlough
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Beading Necklace