Removals to France - Some of the Most Famous Wine Producing Regions of France

If you are reading this post, doubtless you will already be planning your removals to France and looking forward, among other things, to sampling for yourselves some of the finest wines Europe has to offer.

France has a wonderful wine producing tradition which stretches back over many centuries and as a result, French wines are widely regarded as among the best in the world. If your removals to France takes you to any of the five regions detailed below, you are in for a real treat; as in many cases you can buy the finest wine direct from the vineyard.

For removals to France, with Hamiltons Removals you are in safe hands. We take care of every aspect of your removal, from the initial survey which is carried out by our time-served removals experts, to the fixing of dates and times. We'll carefully wrap and pack your belongings, keeping them safe at our secure storage facility should that be necessary. We will load and transport your belongings with care and deliver them safely to your new French home.

In this article we shall spotlight some of the most famous wine producing regions in France, the type of wine that is produced in the region,  important facts, and hopefully some interesting snippets of information that you may not already be aware of.

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Removals to France

Famous Wine Producing Regions

Champagne

Wine production in this region can be traced back to the middle ages but it started in earnest in the 17th and 18th centuries. Grape varieties that grow particularly well here are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier and their blending has produced some of the oldest, most famous and best selling champagnes including Ruinart,  Taittinger, Moët et Chandon and Veuve Clicquot.

Labelled according to taste and vintage, champagnes are classified either as Brut (very dry), Extra dry (slightly sweeter than Brut), Sec (medium dry) and Demi Sec (sweet).
Non-vintage or NV – These champagnes are blended from 2 or 3 vintages and are meant to be enjoyed sooner rather than later.

Vintage – This is made from the best grapes of a single harvest. Conditions are not always perfect for champagne so some vintages will be better than others and some years may not be classified vintage at all.
Blanc de Blancs – This popular champagne uses only the Chardonnay grape.
Blanc de Noirs – This one uses just the Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier varieties.
Rosé – Tinged red, this is made by blending a still red wine with Champagne.

Burgundy Wines
The Burgundy wine region of France can be easily split into six areas. Although the sixth, Beaujolais, does not strictly fall within the Burgundy region, it can reasonably be listed here.
Chablis – This northernmost region of Burgundy is highly regarded for its production of the best dry white wines.
The Côte de Nuits – This region is championed as the home of Burgundy red
The Côte de Beaune – Great reds and even greater white Burgundies come from here
The Côte Chalonnaise – Another area for great reds and whites
The Mâconnais – Wines from the south of Burgundy tend to be cheaper and are not meant to be aged. They should be enjoyed while they are still young and fresh.

Beaujolais
Beaujolais is produced using the Gamay grape which is not used in Burgundy by decree of Philippe the Bold in 1395. This move saw the separation of Beaujolais from neighbouring Burgundy, and, as unpopular as it was at the time, this led to the Gamay making its own very distinct and famous mark on the world of wine. Perhaps the most famous is Beaujolais Nouveau, a young, sprightly and vibrant wine with fruity flavours, which should not be laid down but enjoyed whilst still fresh.

Bordeaux Wines
Bordeaux is in the Aquitaine region of south-west France. It is four times the size of Burgundy and home to 10,000+ wine producers who specialise in the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc grape varieties. Their wines are blended and named as follows:
Médoc – A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with Malbec and Petit Verdot.
Margaux – Again with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, but leaning more towards Cabernet Sauvignon, with Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot grapes for a more delicate taste.
Saint Emilion – A darker red which ages more quickly than other red Bordeaux wines. Made with Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
Barsac – A sweet white wine made with Sauvignon, Sémillon and Muscadelle.

Alsace Wines
The main grape varieties grown in the Alsace region of France to the far north-east of the country and bordering Germany are:  Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Klevener de Heiligenstein and Pinot Noir.
Pinot Blanc - Well rounded, delicate, fresh and supple, it is a lovely mid range wine.
Riesling - Dry, with a delicate fruitiness it is recognised as one of the world's finest white wine varieties.
Pinot Gris - Full bodied and slightly smoky,
Gewurztraminer – Probably the best-known Alsace wine. It is at once fruity and flowery with more than a hint of spice
Sylvaner – Fresh and light, it is delicate and refreshing.
Muscat d'Alsace – An aromatic dry wine
Pinot Noir – The Alsace Red, the only Alsace Red

Over 90% of the wine from Alsace is white and should be served chilled but not iced as this will inevitably dilute the  flavour.

Loire Valley Wines
White, rose, red, sparkling and sweet, the Loire Valley has it all
White Wines
The white wines can vary from crisp and dry to rich and aromatic.  They are fruity and refreshing making them ideal accompaniments to a wide range of foods.
Rosé Wines
Rosé wines of the region are refreshing and full flavoured. They are again, excellent  accompaniments to food, especially barbecues and picnics.
Red Wines
The Loire Valley's red wines range from fresh and fruity to rich and earthy. The lighter ones can be served chilled and make a refreshing change to white at a summer barbecue. Full bodied reds from the Loire Valley are an excellent accompaniment to hearty dishes.
Sparkling Wines
A Loire Valley sparkling wine is an excellent celebratory drink that can also be enjoyed over a light meal.
Sweet Wines
The sweet wines of the Loire Valley are among the world’s best. They are best enjoyed at the end of a meal, as an accompaniment to a dessert.

About Hamiltons
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