French Grape variety Red wine variety Cabernet Franc is grown mainly in the Bordeaux region.

In Pomerol and Saint-Emilion it is known as "Bouchet". This grape-variety is also present in the adiran vines as "Bouchy". !urther north" in the #oire $alley and" particularly in Touraine and in Saumur it sometimes appears as "Breton". %a&ernet !ranc is a grape-variety which gives small &unches o' tiny &lack&erries. $ine growers appreciate it &ecause it is not demanding and any soil is convenient. Cabernet Franc wine" as well as %a&ernet Sauvignon wine" is o' a &right and shinny color. It &rings straw&erry and &lack&erry aromas. (owever &ecause it is less per'umed and structured" it is o'ten associated to other vine-varieties. The only terroirs to supply pure Cabernet Franc are the red wines 'rom #oire $alley ) Bourgueil" %hinon and Saumur%hampigny red only. *romas) straw&erry" &lack&erry !rench wines) Pomerol" Saint Emilion" Bourgueil" Saumur" adiran" etc !irst o' all a typically Bordeaux vine-variety" the Cabernet Sauvignon also grows in the #oire $alley" in #anguedoc +oussillon" Provence and in the South ,est. In Bordeaux region" mainly in -raves and in .doc" where vine growers sometime calls it "Petit %a&ernet"" %a&ernet represents over hal' the planted grape-varieties. In wine" %a&ernet Sauvignon is traditionally associated to %a&ernet !ranc" erlot and Petit $erdot. Cabernet Sauvignon small &unches give a strong in tannic wine with aromas o' &lackcurrant and green pepper. There'ore the wine is harsh when young &ut develops a very delicate &ou/uet in aging. %ali'ornian vine growers have managed to produce very good wines o' the Cabernet Sauvignon variety which up to now seemed to &e exclusively reserved to .doc terroirs. *romas) &lack currant" violet

!rench wines)

.doc" -raves"

argaux" Bergerac" etc

Carignan is widely present in the south o' !rance" in #anguedoc-+oussillon and Provence. It is used mainly to produce strong "$in de Ta&le" in large /uantity. But %arignan is also associated to varieties such as -renache" ourv0dre and Syrah. Carignan is a hot country vine-variety" it does not like damp. It is why it is grown in Spain and *lgeria. Carignan enters in the composition o' 'amous +oussillon sweet wines such as Banyuls and +ivesaltes. *romas) &lack 'ruits" &lack pepper" licorice !rench wines) %otes du +oussillon" %or&i0res" Saint %hinian" Cinsault 1or %insaut2 is one o' the oldest south o' !rance variety. Even nowadays it is impossi&le to determinate its origins" &etween Provence and #anguedoc. The Cinsault is a hill-side grape-variety. It is the reason 'or which it is always associated to other varieties) %arignan" -renache" ourv0dre" Syrah. Cinsault produces large grains" very sweet and 3uicy. *lthough not well known" this variety contri&utes to the production o' excellent wines such as Saint--eorges d45r/ues 1#anguedoc2. *romas) red 'ruits !rench wines) %oteaux du #anguedoc" %otes de Provence" %hateauneu' du Pape" %otes du $entoux" etc Gamay is the only grape which comes in the Beau3olais wines. In 'act it gets its name 'rom a hamlet near Pulignyontrachet. Gamay reaches per'ection in the granitic soil o' Beau3olais region. -amay produces red grapes with white 3uice" smooth and 'ruity. The wine can &e consumed young. Else where" Gamay grape-variety does &adly on light soils. (owever one can 'ind admira&le examples o' acclimatisation"

specially in Touraine and in the counties o' 6apa and San Benito where the wine is sold under the appellation "-amay du Beau3olais"172. *romas) straw&erry" cherry" spice !rench wines) Beau3olais" Touraine" etc Grenache grows in the +h8ne $alley and the #anguedoc+oussillon. It particularly appreciates sun. The sweet grape give colored wines rich in alcohol.

In the past" one liked pure Grenache wines which could reach 9:; proo'. Today -renache is associated to Syrah and ourv0dre. Grenache is a grape-variety essential in the excellent sweet wines o' the #anguedoc-+oussillon" such as Banyuls. *romas) red 'ruits" lavender" thyme !rench wines) %hateauneu' du Pape" %otes du +hone" %oteaux du #anguedoc" %otes de Provence" etc Merlot is a Bordeaux region grape-variety. erlot is the most important grape in the Bordeaux region. It is classi'ied in the %a&ernet group. It is a 'ragile grape" sensi&le to dryness as well as cold. erlot gives a richly colored wine" with &ody and so'tness. Merlot matures /uickly. This grape has less tannins than %a&ernets. It is one o' the most productive grapes. erlot is the per'ect variety to accompany %a&ernets. Merlot can &e 'ound in several countries... as 'ar as in +ussia. *romas) &lackcurrant" &lack&erry !rench wines) Pomerol" Saint Emilion" %ahors" etc Mourvdre grape is very well known in the +h8ne $alley. It is one o' the older grape-variety present in !rance. 5ne can consider it was &orn in Provence. This grape variety resists very well to high temperatures and

pre'ers stony soil. Mourvdre produces a &luish 3uicy &erry. It is used to make 'ull-&odied and deep wines. This is why it is associated to %insault and -renache. The Mourvdre variety was destroyed &y the too 'amous Phylloxera. Thanks to the editerranean vinegrowers e''orts" it has regained its importance. *romas) &lack 'ruits" licorice !rench wines) Bandol" -igondas" %hateauneu' du Pape" %oteaux du #anguedoc" etc Pinot Noir 1Black Pinot2 is very popular in Burgundy. It is an admira&le red grape-variety. ,e owe it the Big Bourgogne ... and %hampagne wines. In %hampagne it is associated to %hardonnay and Pinot eunier< The grapes stem. The component 3uice gives 'ruit o' Pinot Noir are tiny and very tight around the 3uice is sweet uncolored. It is the colored o' the skin which dissolving in contact with the the wine its glistening colour. It &rings summer aromas.

Pinot Noir comes in the composition o' =ura and *lsace wines as well as in ros. de Sancerre. Pinot Noir cluster looks like a pine cone" 'rom which it gets its name< *romas) cherry" &lackcurrant" licorice !rench wines) $osne +oman.e" %los $ougeot" Pommard" etc Syrah 1or Serine2 is supposed to have &een &rought in the south o' !rance 'rom the region o' Syracuse &y the +oman. The vine-variety is the principal grape in the north o' the +h8ne $alley. Syrah appreciates poor soil and hot climate. The Syrah wine is strong" rich and colored with aromas o' pepper" violet or rasp&erry" depending up on the soil. ,e owe to Syrah the &ig %8tes du +h8ne such as %8te +otie or (ermitage and also #anguedoc-+oussillon wines.

Syrah per'ectly acclimated itsel' in %ali'ornia" *ustralia and South *'rica. *romas) rasp&erry" &lack pepper" licorice" violet !rench wines) %hateauneu' du Pape" %ote +otie" (ermitage" %oteaux du #anguedoc" %otes de Provence" etc WHITE WINE VARIETY Chardonnay is the most 'amous grape-variety throughout the world. !or several centuries it has &een the only grape used 'or white Bourgogne. It is also one o' the main variety used in the ela&oration o' %hampagne. In The %hampagne region" %hardonnay vini'ied on its one is called "Blanc de Blanc". The grains are shiny and golden. Chardonnay are among the &est white wines" thick and delicate" traditionally dry. >epending on there origin some o' them can &e aged 'or several years. Chardonnay grows in most wine producing countries. Its name is &orrowed 'rom a village o' the region o' acon 1Burgundy2< *romas) apple" linden" almond !rench wines) %ha&lis" *n3ou" Saumur" etc eursault" ontrachet" Pouilly-!uiss."

Chenin Blanc or Pineau de la #oire is the grape-variety which produces the &est white wines o' *n3ou and Touraine. It has nothing in common with grapes o' the Pinot 'amily. The variety gives all its 'ullness in the #oire $alley" elsewhere it did not acclimate. Chenin Blanc is used 'or dry and sweet wines. It is su&3ect to no&le rot and 'or that reason is harvested as late as possi&le" sometimes in novem&er. %henin Blanc wines such as $ouvray and Saumur age very well. +a&elais" already" wrote a&out %henin< *romas) apple" cinnamon" /uince

!rench wines) $ouvray" Saumur" *n3ou" %oteaux du #ayon" etc Clairette is a southern grape-variety. It is one o' the oldest. It is used with others in white and ros. wines o' #anguedoc+oussillon" Provence and +h8ne $alley. Clairette is used 'or some "muscats" and 'or sparkling wines such as the 'amous %lairette de >ie in the >rome. It happens to &e associated to other varieties in the white wines o' Provence and" even in the red wine o' %h?teauneu' du Pape. Clairette gives a high degree o' alcohol. *nd it madeiri@es /uickly. In the past it was considered one o' its &est points" nowadays it is regarded as a 'ault. *romas) peach" apricot !rench wines) %oteaux du #anguedoc" %hateauneu' du Pape" Bandol" etc Muscadelle is a white grape-variety 'rom the Bordeaux region. It is associated to Sauvignon and Semillon in the -raves wines and in the universally 'amous Sauternes. Muscadelle matures very 'ast and its grapes are /uickly invaded &y no&le rot which gives it a very pronounced taste. Muscadelle is not classi'ied among the *roma) acacia !rench wines) Sauternes" -raves" on&a@illac" etc uscat 'amily.

Pinot Gris is an *lsatian grape-variety. It is also called "Tokay d4*lsace". Pinot -ris is used 'or the intense white wines o' this region. Pinot Gris grape is a very exacting variety with small &luish grains. Its character varies depending on good or &ad season. It might &e light and 'ruity or ro&ust. The Tokay d4*lsace has nothing to do with (ungarian Tokay. *romas) dried 'ruits" wood" spice !rench wines) Tokay d4*lsace" Tokay Pinot -ris in'ormation

Sauvignon Blanc is one o' the &est !rench grape-variety. It is the reason why it has &een selected in several regions. Sauvignon grape is used 'or Pouilly-!um. and Auincy and it is the exclusive variety used to in Sancerre. Sauvignon is mostly a #oire variety. In the Bordeaux region it is used as well as other white varieties to ela&orate -raves and Sauternes. It is also used in South ,est or Provence wines. Sauvignon Blanc gives wines an her&al character with aromas o' mineral and melon. In the #oire $alley" Sauvignon wines have ac/uired such a renown that there are the "vins de Sauvignon" 1Sauvignon wines2 and the others. *romas) melon" mineral !rench wines) Pouilly !um." Sancerre" Entre >eux Sauternes" -raves" etc ers"

Semillon Blanc grows mainly in the Bordeaux region and in the South ,est. $inegrowers associate it to Sauvignon and uscadelle in the ela&oration o' Sauternes and -raves. The Semillon produces a lively and dry white wine. Excellent sweet white wines are also made 'rom Semillon Blanc as its grains are very sweet and low in acid. #ike that o' rot. uscadelle its grapes are /uickly invaded &y no&le

*s 'or most o' the Bordeaux grape-variety" Semillon is nowadays cultivated in %ali'ornia. *romas) honey" lemon" linden !rench wines) -raves" Sauternes" on&a@illac" etc

gni Blanc is a widely spread white grape-variety. It exists in many "terroirs" in the south o' !rance. Bnder the name o' "Saint-Emilion" it is the predominant in %ognac. Bgni Blanc grows also in #anguedoc" Provence and %orsica where vinegrowers use it 'or its 'reshness. In 'act gni Blanc is the &ase o' several dry white wines. Bgni Blanc can &e 'ound in most o' Italian white wines.

*roma) &anana !rench wines) %oteaux du #anguedoc" %otes de Provence" %otes du +hone" etc * 'ew years ago" !iognier was a rarity. In 9CDE" only F hectares were 'ound almost exclusively in %ondrieu in the northern +h8ne. 6owadays" this stylish exotically aromatic variety has &een noticed" and is spreading across the south o' !rance in #anguedoc-+oussillon and Provence" as well as in %ali'ornia. !iognier produces an intense" dry white wine" lots o' 'ruit and a 'lavour mingling apricot" apple" peach and violet with a hint o' honey. !iognier is &est drunk young. It is &eauti'ul with spicy *siatic dishes or with medium to strong cheeses. It is also an unusual choice 'or simply prepared lo&ster" roast chicken and sole or trout. *romas) apricot" violet" apple !rench wines) %ondrieu" %ote +otie" %oteaux du #anguedoc" etc