Posts Tagged ‘sparkling wines’

Wine is undoubtedly one of the great national treasures of France, which over the years has become an integral part of French culture and is rooted in history with around half a million vineyards.

Although you can find many great value wines and numerous different varieties to choose from whatever your palette, there are also some of the most expensive wines in the world that are produced in France, and the vast majority of people will never be able to experience in their lifetime.

In fact, a vintage Romanee Conti red wine produced from the pinot noir grape in Burgundy can cost anything upwards of 1,000 for just one bottle. And a rare vintage case of 12 sold at auction in London for a staggering 58,500 making this the most expensive case of wine sold at auction up until the year 2007.

Both Bordeaux and Burgundy have always contested that they produce the best wines and in their own ways the are probably both correct, and yet apart from the Champagne region, famous for the sparkling wine of the same name, Bordeaux wines are far more widely known than those from Burgundy.

No matter what region in France you go on holiday to, you will be able to sample a wide variety of different wines and it is a good idea to get to know your preferences before trying different ones. Whether you prefer a red wine or a white wine, sweet or dry, still or sparkling the choice is immense.

Going to a wine tasting session can be great fun trying out different varieties, yet for some it can also be a little daunting, especially if it is not on an arranged tour of which there are plenty to choose from. However, there are some general pointers that will get you through.

When wine tasting, you should always start off with the lightest wines such as sparkling wines and work through to full bodied whites, then through the reds from the light to the full bodied and end on dessert wines. This will help to keep your taste buds more sensitive so you can better appreciate each wine and in some places they even supply water in between so as to get the full flavour and texture of each wine you are tasting.

You should swill the wine round in the glass a couple of times, which will help aerate it and provide you with the full aroma. Plus it is customary to spit out most wine, rather than swallow it, although you can swallow a small amount on occasions to experience what it is like after it has gone down.

The Loire Valley is a massive wine producing region that produces a variety of wine such as Muscadet, Cabernet Franc, Gamay reds and even reasonably priced Sauvignon Blancs. And with the beautiful chateaux plus the tranquil winding river it makes the Loire region one of the most visited areas in France for experiencing wines and fine French food to accompany them with the stunning backdrops so synonymous with this region.

Yet for hundreds of years Bordeaux has had a long and internationally famous history of high quality wines and is also a very popular place to go, although you can still pick up a good value Bordeaux wine if you travel to the outskirts of the region.

And yes, who could not think about champagne, which is so tightly controlled for what can be classed as a true champagne, you will get to appreciate why some varieties are so expensive and are only produced in this region for consumption throughout the world. However, there are some vineyards that will charge far less for a bottle of their champagne with the same finesse, compared to that of the famous brands we have all come to know.

The Languedoc region in France is one of the biggest wine producing regions and to put this into perspective, it has over two times more land planted to vines than the whole of Australia! Even though in the past, they concentrated more on quantity rather than quality, this is changing where you can pick up a reasonably priced wine that can match up to some at double or even triple the cost.

But France is a country that has such a different range of wines from the many wine regions and each one will provide a taste, aroma and body like no other and some regions themselves offer such a diverse range it can be quite mind boggling, yet a fascinating experience.

Obviously, white wine has long been associated with fish and chicken, whereas red wine is normally paired with red meats and game. Yet when you are in France experiencing the fantastic culinary delights of the regions speciality French food, take the time to choose a wine that will enhance the experience or ask for advice and enjoy.

Author: Martyn Davis
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: How Electric Pressure Cookers Work

Tags: bordeaux wines, bottle wine, champagne region, dessert wines, great national treasures, pinot noir grape, romanee conti, sparkling wines, taste buds, value wines

For those who are looking for a great way to spend a vacation, taking a tour of a French wine region is a great way to spend a week or two away from the typical tourist areas and explore the countryside of one of the most beautiful areas in the world. The French countryside in many of the nation’s wine regions provides a great number of sights, sounds, tastes, and other sensory experiences that a person cannot get from visiting the typical French tourist areas.

If you hope to tour the French wine country, the Champagne region French wine tour is the ideal tour for even the most discriminating wine aficionado. But it’s also enjoyable for people who hope to learn more about wine or those in search of a scenic area with an abundance of natural sights that offer a nice change of pace from city life. This part of the country boasts a moderate climate, particularly in the summer and fall, for the vacationer to visit. It’s also a relatively inexpensive place to tour.

One may partake of the one-of-a-kind nature of the area’s grapes and wineries on a typical tour of the Champagne region of France. This area is located further north than most grape producing regions on earth, and includes five unique wine making districts. It is located near Paris, France’s capital city, making possible tours for visitors to the historic city. Its nearness also contributes to the region’s great success as producers of wine.

Taking a French wine tour in the Champagne region lets the traveler enjoy the renowned sparkling wines that region’s grapes are known for producing. The moisture levels in the soil in this region are highly acidic because of lower temperatures, thanks to the area’s forests which assist in tempering the climate. For visitors, this means that they can enjoy summer temperatures that stay near 70 degrees, a comfortable level to enjoy outdoor tourist activities.

For the person who wants to visit a wine region with a much different flavor than you would get in a Champagne region French wine tour, the Bordeaux region of France also provides a way to see and taste some other popular French wines. The vineyard tours Bordeaux France allows visitors to see a coastal and somewhat warmer climate while tasting the world’s most popular red wines.

Whether you’re a red wine or a sparkling wine fan, or are looking for a great vacation destination outside of the normal tourist areas, taking a tour of the wine growing regions of France is a great way to take a week or two away. The tours of these diverse wine growing regions can be a great opportunity for a traveler to experience a different set of sights and sounds than they would normally see on a vacation.

Author: Summer Wilde
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Beading Necklace

Tags: champagne region of france, french countryside, french wine, moderate climate, sensory experiences, sparkling wines, wine aficionado, wine region, wine regions, wine tour