French, Other Wines

---

From Arles to Nice, Provence is a beautiful stretch of tourist and seaside attractions and idyllic landscapes surrounded by sun-drenched vineyards. Art, history, geography and culture can be found around every corner, and not just during the big festivals throughout the summer. Although Provence is known for its fields of lavender and is the top rosé producer, it also turns out lesser known whites and reds that are gradually gaining notoriety. With new appellations and wines that cannot be found outside the region itself, there are still many great finds in Provence. In this sun-drenched, dry region, grapes are one of the only crops that can be grown. Provence

Languedoc-Roussillon is the largest winegrowing area in the world. From the Rhone to the border of Spain, it is five times larger than the entire Australian winegrowing country. Its geographic and geological diversity provide it with a wide range of unique terroirs, including the schistous terraces of Banyuls and the sandy vineyards of Golfe du Lion, which can be seen from the beach. During the winegrowing crisis of the 1970s, the vineyards were completely overhauled, and the mediocre stock was replaced with noble grape varieties. Thirty years later, the region has emerged on the international market, with numerous exports, and has become France’s latest winegrowing success story.

  The Southwest winegrowing region was created because many small wine producers scattered across the area decided to regroup in order to improve quality and gain recognition. Since they had long operated in the shadow of the neighboring region of Bordeaux, they joined forces, using hard work, awareness of nature and ambition to improve their production as much as possible. Wines of the Southwest come from a wide range of different lands, from the mild, rainy climate of the Basque Country to the dry, limestone terroirs of Cahors, and represent a diverse collection of wines, including fine sweet wines, fruity whites and massive reds. The many authorized grape varieties attest to the long history of winemaking in the area and technology has helped optimize their potential. This is a beautiful region to explore, and its people are as warm and welcoming as the landscapes.

Approximately 1000 km long, the Loire is the largest river in France and its vineyards are never far from its banks. Its source is very near the Rhone Valley, but the climate difference between the two is dramatic. The landscapes and climates of the large Loire region vary significantly from Nantes to Roannes, with maritime influences near the ocean and marked continental influences inland. The resulting multitude of different terroirs yields an incredibly diverse array of wines. With dry, sweet and sparkling wines that can be whites reds or rosés, the Loire Valley is the third most significant region in France in terms of wine quality.