The largest wine regions of France
French wines have been the wine reference worldwide for several decades thanks to the diversity of wines made in the different regions of France which has motivated the winemaking all around the world. What would be of the Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley without the influence of Bordeaux wines, or the Shiraz from Barossa Valley without the inspiration of the wines from Côte Rôtie or Saint Joseph?
Each of the French wine regions has a particular attribute, grape varieties, terroir and "savoir-faire" that make all the difference to produce wines of extraordinary quality in each one of them and of all the possible styles. According to the report of the OIV, in 2017, the surface of vineyards in France reached 787,000 hectares and here we have the top 5 most extensive regions:
1.- Languedoc-Rousillon 235,000 ha
Main grape varieties: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Grenache Blanc
2.- Bordeaux 118,000 ha
Main grape varieties: Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon
3.- Vallée du Rhône 70,365 ha
Main grape varieties: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Viognier, Marsanne
4.- Val de Loire 70,000 ha
Main grape varieties: Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc
5.- Sud-Ouest 47,000 ha
Main grape varieties: Malbec, Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Colombard, Gros Manseng
Champagne 34,000 ha
Main grape varieties: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay
Bourgogne 28,334 ha
Main grape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Source: OIV, Vins Val de Loire, Vins Languedoc, Vins Rhône
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