By Lou Phillips
La Belle Alsace
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As with anything, knowing the ins and outs of French wines will make for a more pleasant experience. The French usually label wines by region and producer, giving no clue as to what grapes are used.
A few notable exceptions are wines from the Tyrolian paradise of Alsace, and the Mediterranean regions of Languedoc and Roussillon. The former specializes in rich whites from Gewurztraminer, Riesling and Pinot Gris, and the latter produces many varieties but quality offerings mimic those from the Rhone Valley.
The Rhone Valley In southern France toward the Mediterranean, the vineyards of the Northern Rhone rise steeply. Here red wine means Syrah and is labeled by region – Cote Rotie, St. Joseph, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage and Cornas.
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Whites are from Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne depending on village. Reds from the south can contain 13 different grapes, but are primarily Grenache-based. Wines labeled Cote du Rhone, are almost all from the southern regions. Southern Rhone whites often feature Grenache Blanc, Viognier and Roussanne.
Provence Although this amazingly beautiful area has been best known for beaches, casinos and the beautiful people, it has also been a major wine producer. Recent recognition by wine lovers was certainly not hurt by the presence of Brad and Anjolie at omaine Miraval, who have teamed up with the esteemed Perrin family of the Rhone to produce world-class Rose. These Blushes are crafted primarily from Carignan, Grenache and Syrah, and are usually dry wines that marry beautifully with the fresh, Provencal cuisine.
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A tour of French wines
The Loire Valle
The Loire River Valley is a cool climate that produces expressive versions of Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc that are named for their village affiliations such as Vouvray and Sancerre. Recent warming trends have also made for riper reds such as Cabernet Franc. This has added to their popularity, as well, and reds are also named for their villages with the most famous being Chinon.
This series has not been about memorizing regions and varietals, but rather about enjoying a tour of French wines and trying some lovely wines along the way. More importantly, I hope you are inspired to order a Sancerre or a White Bordeaux confident that you know what’s in the bottle.
The Chateau Miraval Cotes de Provence Rose
Editor’s Note: Part I may be found at TheTahoeWeekly.com
Lou Phillips is a Level 3 Advanced Sommelier and his consulting business WineProwest.com assists in the selling, buying and managing wine collections. He may be reached at (775) 544-3435 or lou@wineprowest.com. Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com for more wine columns.
