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French Wine Can Cost Over 1000 Per Bottle

May 11th, 2010

Wine is undoubtedly one of the fantastic national reserves 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 fantastic 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 by no means 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 right, and yet apart from the Champagne region, well-known 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 excellent thought 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 fantastic fun trying out different varieties, yet for some it can also be a small daunting, especially if it is not on an arranged tour of which there are plenty to choose from. But, 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 gorgeous 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 well-known history of high quality wines and is also a very well loved place to go, although you can still pick up a excellent value Bordeaux wine if you travel to the outskirts of the region.

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

The Languedoc region in France is one of the largest wine producing regions and to place 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 question for advice and delight in.

www.placesinfrance.com

Martyn Davis European Traveller, Author, Photographer and Business Development Manager, For all your French holiday needs and travel guide to France, with tourist information, landmarks and attractions – French Wine From Innumerable Regions In France

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An Introductory To The Famed French Wine

May 10th, 2010

In whichever part of the civilized world you may live, you are sure to have heard of the prominent “Champagne”. It is a word and thought synonymous with enormity, achievement and quality, and it is a wine that has been around for centuries.

Champagne has been used traditionally for glorious occasions such as celebrating a milestone, victory of some sort, and to toast the bride and groom on their marriage. It is often served with meal or desert. The unique wine has been an integral part of sports celebrations since Moet et Chandon, the prominent French winery, ongoing offering their Champagne to the winners of Formula 1 Grand Prix events. The whispering noise made while opening a Champagne bottle is now and again called “le soupir amoureux” or “loving whisper”. A single edged sword, called a “sabre” has been used in many occasions to open Champagne bottles with fantastic ceremony. This technique is called “sabrage”. But the term is also used for simply breaking the head of the bottle.

Produced exclusively in the historic province in the northeast of France, the wine takes its name from the region it is produced?located about one hundred miles east of Paris. The exclusive quality of this wine has obsessed legislations to protect its identity and distinguish it from possible imitations. The wine “Champagne” named after the French region in northeast France meaning “open country”. The word “Champagne”, beginning with a capital “C” will be imprinted on the mark of all Genuine French Champagne. The name “Champagne” is highly protected by law to help keep the quality and taste distinguished.

Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay are the three different grapes employed in the production of Champagne. Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier are classified as “black grapes”, while the more well known Chardonnay is classified as “white grape”. The wine is produced by inducing the in-bottle secondary fermentation of the wine to effect carbonation. In secondary fermentation, the wine is bottled with a combination of yeast and fresh sugar known as “liqueur de triage”. As carbon dioxide is released as a byproduct of fermentation, the wine is made “bubbly”.

The type of Champagne and its flavor is indicated on the mark of the bottle. Some Champagne are a blend of different grapes?producing an exquisite taste. “Blanc de noirs” is a French term meaning “white of blacks”. It is a white Champagne wine produced exclusively from black grapes.

Champagne is considered a “sparkling” wine that is hailed during glorious occasions or celebrations of achievements. Although considered a type of sparkling wine, Champagne is distinct from all other sparkling wine due to its exceptional quality and appraisal. Some manufactures produce a lesser quality of the wine by by cheaper quality grapes. Tasting the original Champagne once will impress itself on your mind and you will be able to distinguish it from lesser quality.

Patrick Carpen is the designer, developer and title-holder of the website: http://www.platinumrecipescollection.com . The Platinum Recipes Collection is the internet’s most comprehensive recipes collection.

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Is there a cheaper American made wine similar to a French Hermitage wine?

May 10th, 2010

I make a beef dish with blue cheese sauce and the Hermitage wine worked fantastic with it. It was about $120 a bottle, and I cannot afford that often. Is there a domestic wine that is cheaper that would capture some of the same qualities to go with my beef?

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Club Wine, California Wine & Wine Clubs of North America

Posts Tagged ‘French’

French Wine Can Cost Over 1000 Per Bottle

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An Introductory To The Famed French Wine

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Is there a cheaper American made wine similar to a French Hermitage wine?

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