Posts Tagged ‘wine world’

Burgundy is one of the most difficult regions in the wine world to predict, but knowing a little something about the larger AVA’s in France can do one a lot of good when beginning to choose wine.

Cote D’Or: When people speak about Burgundy, they are almost always talking about this region. The region is approximately thirty miles long and is almost exclusively planted in limestone soil, which is split into two halves as far as the wine drinking public is concerned. The northern half grows solely red wine (Pinot Noir) and the southern half grows both red and white wine, although it grows more white wine than red. One village which literally everyone has heard of is Dijon which lies at the northernmost point of Burgundy. Yes, Dijon is the town which the mustard is named after and the village still produces 70% of the mustard consumed in France.

Chablis: It’s placement at the northernmost edge of Burgundy once made Chablis an important supplier of Chardonnay to the Paris bistros. Alas, with so many new producers of Chardonnay from all over the world and easier transit of wine in general, both the pedigree of Chablis and the quality of its wines has dipped over time.

Cote Chalonnaise: Situated next to Cote D’Or, this is the region to look toward if you want to drink a quality Burgundy, but can’t afford one of the premiere wineries of the region. Again, the top producers may vary from year to year and if you get a year with less then ripe grapes the wine may end up watery and uninteresting….but in good years, WOW! Again, this is a region where is makes sense to find a quality wine shop and receive recommendations based on recent vintages from someone whom has had the chance to try and wines themselves.

Maconnais: Despite the fact that the village of Chardonnay can be found in this region, the wines produced here are more characteristic of jug wine then anything of higher quality. Historians are even suspicious of the name of the village, there is plenty of debate regarding the time line of the Chardonnay wine being produced, or the village named. It is possible the village took the name of a famous wine to encourage tourism and bring in more jobs.

In general the average wine drinker should look for wines from either Cote D’Or, if you can find an affordable version, or Cote Chalonnaise for a more affordable version of the great Burgundy that so many people crave.

Author: Mark A Aselstine
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Guest blogger

Champagne! That word brings to mind festive celebrations filled with cheer and visions of the golden fizzy drink that graces the occasion. Champagne, Burgundy, Bordeaux all these are in fact regions in France where these world famous drinks are produced. France is the most influential in the wine-world, and its wines have decorated tables around the globe and dominated palates for centuries. Its wine-making history has its roots in the ancient Roman times.

Currently France is the second in wine production, but boasts of the best quality of wines. French winemaking is the accepted procedure for wine-producing countries of the world. France produces all kinds of wines, from the cheap table wines to the expensive vintages. Rare vintages are most sought after, and are a collector’s item with prices of thousands of dollars for a bottle.

French wine is an integral part of the French identity and pride, as demonstrated by the wines having more of a regional than a national identity. Different regions have their own classification systems, particular grape varieties, and special production methods which is many layered and complex.

The qualities and prices depend on the kind of wines: some are made for immediate consumption while others are kept for a long time in cellars. Typical styles have been developed to accompany different kinds of meals, be it a quick snack type meal, a cafe meal or a multi-course menu in a sophisticated restaurant. Recently “bar wines” have been developed for drinking alone unaccompanied by any food. All kinds of wines are available, to suit the most exacting gastronomy.

French wine can be red, rose or white, and come in dry, semi-sweet or sweet varieties. They are further available as sparkling or fortified. Labels on the bottles indicate the potentiality of the wine, carrying information on the region where the grapes were produced, how it was bottled (on the field, on the estate, or using traded grapes), and also the blends that are used in the wine. For example, a distinctive mark called “Vigneron independant” is used by the wine-make to distinguish their wine from larger corporate winemaking companies, and emphasizes a return to the traditional basic of the wine-making craft. A special logo is printed on the foil cap covering the cork of the independent wine-makers.

Research suggests tremendous health benefits from wines, especially red wine. The French, who are traditional wine drinkers have very low heart disease rate which is attributed to the chemical called procyanidins which do not allow the blood vessels to constrict. The highest levels of procyanidins are found in the red wines from south of France and Sardinia in Italy. Apart from this, the wines have antioxidants, suppress some strains of bacteria, and have cancer-alleviating properties.

The French have been the largest consumers on their own wines, and the consumption has been dropping due to the lowering of the per capita income. The winemakers therefore have had to rely on exports and there too, they have been facing severe competition with many new productions emerging from different parts of the world.

Author: James Copper
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Duty tariff