France is always one of the primary thought of countries when it comes to wine and wine-related things such as vineyards, pairings and vineyard tours. Almost hailed as the father of winemaking, France is home to numerous wine regions, all of which have their own styles and types of wine along with their own suggestions for pairings. Here we look at the top three wine regions and what they suggest in terms of wine and snacks for the ultimate wining and dining experience on your travels.
Bordeaux
Bordeaux has always been one of the most famous wine regions of France and its delicious wines are known around the world for their taste, texture and elegance. With its close proximity to the south west coast of France, Bordeaux wines have throughout the ages been widely exported with these wines reaching many far flung areas of the world well in advance of any others from the region. Bordeaux wines are among some of the most popular in the world today, with over 900 million bottles produced in this region of France every year. It’s estimated that with around 13 bottles being purchased every second across the world, wine from the Bordeaux region is still one of the most popular wines on the planet. With an elegant and vast vintage collection of wines on offer throughout the areas well, you can find the perfect bottle to pair with some of your more exquisite French foods, such as Foie Gras.
Provence
The south of France is home to the Provence region which boasts some of the most lovely images of rolling hills and great swathes of vineyards prime for explo ring. Nestled against a backdrop of the Alps, wine isn’t the only thing on offer here and Provence is known for its production of lavender as well. Both wine and lavender are popular crops here with the sunnier and warmer days and the cooler winds off the mountains providing the perfect atmosphere for growing. An area of pristine beauty, tourists flock here to enjoy some of the more major tourist ports of Nice and Marseilles. With so many options around for enjoying a holiday in the region it’s equally as easy to find the perfect culinary matches for some of Provence’s most elegant of wines, such as the Cassoulet – a casserole well-loved in Toulouse that combines the rich textures of pork with local herbs and spices cooked slowly over several hours to achieve perfection.
Champagne
The Champagne region is northern France’s most well-known vineyards, producing delicious bubbly wines which are blended by master blenders to create the perfect wine. Champagne producers can create either vintage or non-vintage champagnes depending on producer. Non-vintage champagnes are blended with grapes from several years while vintage champagnes are made with grapes from one singular year. Champagne is the ultimate in French wine experiences and shouldn’t be confused with sparkling wine from France, of which there are many fantastic brands, producers and types. While most champagnes are white, rosé champagnes do exist. Try champagne with a regional delicacy like Macaroons, a sweet treat that was brought to France from Italy for a perfect afternoon tea (without the tea!)
So there you have a couple of great suggestions on regional dishes to try when pairing your wines on your vineyard tours throughout the French countryside – home of some of the world’s most robust and delicious varieties of wine.