Laithwaites

Can you name some of the best-known French wine regions? French winemaking skills are respected worldwide, from Burgundy’s elegant white wines to Bordeaux’s complex red blends and the iconic sparkling wines of Champagne. Each region is unique, and its wines reflect that. Let’s go on a taste tour of some of the best wine regions of France.

Why Do Regions Matter When It Comes to French Wine?

There are 11 major wine regions in France. However, each of these includes multiple sub-regions. For example, the Bordeaux region includes sub-regions, known as appellations, like the Médoc and Saint-Émilion. But these can also be broken down further into specific communes and even single vineyards.

What makes each region unique? The climate, soils, sun exposure and elevation all shape the taste of the wine made there. This is known as the “terroir.”

Terroir is taken very seriously in France, and rightly so, because even wines made in different locations from the same grape variety can taste different depending on where the grapes were grown. In addition to the topographical elements and the grape varieties themselves, how the wines are made, the area’s local traditions and the winemaker’s skills play key roles in the style and quality of wines produced.

The French wine classification system—the AOC system—is in place to guarantee that the wine you buy comes from a specific area and meets certain standards.

The top tier, “Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée” (AOC), is like the gold standard, promising the wine has been produced in a specific region following strict controls. “Indication Géographique Protégée” (IGP), which was formerly known as “Vin de Pays” (a term you still see sometimes), sits below AOC, offering quality wines with slightly less rigidity. Lastly, you have “Vin de France” wines, which can be made from any grape variety or region in France and are typically easy-drinking wines for everyday enjoyment.

France currently has over 360 Appellations d’Origine Contrôlée (AOCs), although the number varies as new appellations are created and existing ones are adjusted.

The Key Wine Regions of France

Each main French wine region creates wines that reflect its terroir—and these are some of the major appellations.

Alsace

Alsace lies in northeastern France, along the German border. The region’s semi-continental climate, amplified by the protective Vosges mountains, provides the ideal conditions for white grape varieties like Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Muscat and Pinot Blanc. These wines are often presented in Germanic fluted bottles and labeled by the grape variety. The wines are mainly dry, other than some sweet wines labeled Vendanges Tardives or Selection de Grains Nobles.

Alsace wines are known for their fresh, floral aromatics, ripe fruit flavors and rich textures. Although the region is recognized for its white wines, it also produces reds and rosés, primarily from Pinot Noir.

Beaujolais

Located south of Burgundy, between Lyon and the Saône River, Beaujolais is known for its exuberant, fruity wines made using the region’s primary grape, Gamay. Beaujolais wines are a good-value alternative to the famous reds of Burgundy. The region’s predominantly granite-based soils and semi-continental climate contribute to the wines’ juicy, berry-infused character. This is evident in Beaujolais Nouveau, a new wine released every third Thursday of November.

Beaujolais is home to ten villages that are noted for the quality of their vineyards. They’re known as the Beaujolais Crus and include Fleurie, Morgon and Moulin-à-Vent. They produce the region’s finest wines and feature their names prominently on the label.

Bordeaux

Bordeaux, in the Southwest of France along the Atlantic coast, is famed for its red wines, which are typically blends made from primarily Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Bordeaux’s temperate maritime climate is ideal for vine cultivation, allowing these varieties to flourish.

The Gironde estuary divides the region into the Left Bank (where the gravelly soils suit Cabernet Sauvignon, making wines celebrated for their structure) and the Right Bank (where the clay soils grow Merlot, producing softer, more opulent wines). Famous Bordeaux reds can command high prices, but lesser-known châteaux offer remarkable value. The region also makes impressive white wines, mainly from Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. Also, look for the luscious sweet wines from the Sauternes region of Bordeaux.

Burgundy

Situated just to the east of the center of France, Burgundy has a diverse climate and a famously vast variety of soils. The region includes a patchwork of vineyards where two iconic grapes are the primary varieties grown: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

The Pinot Noir grapes, used for the region’s red wines, are typically medium-bodied and known for their red fruit flavors. Most white Burgundy is produced from Chardonnay, with styles varying throughout the region—Chablis from the north offers crisp and steely wines. In contrast, Chardonnay from the southern regions like Mâcon creates riper, rounder whites.

Burgundy is known for producing some of the most expensive wines in the world, particularly those from the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune vineyards.

Champagne

One of France’s most famous wine regions, Champagne is also one of its most northerly situated. Its cool climate and unique chalky soils create the ideal conditions for growing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier (known locally as just Menuier)—the trio of grapes behind Champagne’s iconic sparkling wines. The wines can range from white to rosé and from dry (Brut) to sweet (Doux). Wines made solely from Chardonnay are labeled Blanc de Blancs, while those made from only red Meunier and Pinot Noir grapes are Blanc de Noirs.

Champagne follows the traditional method (the Méthode Champenoise), where the secondary fermentation takes place inside the bottle (not a tank), giving the wines their elegant sparkle and toasty complexity. Vintage Champagnes celebrate the unique character of a single year’s harvest, while Non-vintage Champagnes blend grapes from multiple years to maintain a consistent style. Only wines from this region can be called Champagne.

Languedoc-Roussillon

Stretched along the sunny Mediterranean coastline, Languedoc-Roussillon (also commonly referred to as “the Midi”) forms the largest wine region in France. Red wines dominate the region. They are renowned for their rich, full-bodied character, with the best-known red wines coming from AOCs such as Corbières, Minervois, Saint-Chinian and Faugères. They are typically made from a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Carignan grapes. But high-quality white wines are also produced here, like the vibrant white wines of Picpoul de Pinet, as well as high-quality rosés.

Loire Valley

The Loire Valley follows France’s longest river (the Loire) from the Atlantic to just west of Burgundy. Its cooler climate makes it perfect for producing crisp, ultra-refreshing white wines. The region takes pride in its aromatic Sauvignon Blancs, which have green fruit and citrus flavors. Look for white wines from Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, alongside the fine Chenin Blancs found in Vouvray, Savennières, Montlouis, Anjou and beyond. And don’t miss the refreshing whites of Muscadet, near the coast, which are made from the local grape Melon de Bourgogne.

The Loire Valley produces lighter red wines too, particularly from the Cabernet Franc grape. The best come from Chinon and Samumur-Champigny, which make wines known for their red fruit flavors with hints of green pepper and wild herbs.

Provence

Provence is France’s oldest wine-growing region, with a winemaking history extending back 2,600 years. It lies at the southern end of the Rhône Valley and borders the Mediterranean Sea to the south and Italy to the east. The unique mountainous climate and the strong Mistral wind mean the conditions here are ideal for making crisp whites and rosés (as well as rarer, but equally delicious, bold reds).

The region is celebrated for its rosés, comprising almost all of Provence’s wine production. Mainly featuring Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault, Provence rosés are known for their fruit flavors and refreshing profiles. Look for red berry, citrus and melon flavors with subtle floral notes.

Rhône Valley

Extending from Lyon in the north to Avignon in the south, the Rhône Valley is famous for its red wines. The Northern Rhône region has a continental climate and steep, granite slopes—Syrah is the main grape grown here. The iconic red wines of Hermitage and Côte-Rôtie are sometimes co-fermented with a dash of white wine (Marsanne or Roussanne in Hermitage and Viognier in Côte-Rotie), which can add a fragrant lift to Syrah’s spicy, dark fruit flavors.

The warmer Southern Rhône region is famous for its hearty reds, blended from up to 18 different grape varieties. Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the most famous appellation, known for its complex reds mainly made from Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, a trio often referred to as “GSM” wines. Also look out for the other rich red wines from this region—Côtes-du-Rhône wines can be particularly good value (in addition to the reds, there are also white and rosé versions).

The South West wine region also produces rich, robust reds and aromatic whites, while the island of Corsica reflects its unique blend of French and Italian influences.

Explore our full selection of French wines today.

Offer Code: