France has always had a special place in the tastes and loyalties of the wine-lover. Even though France is not always the largest producer of wine (Italy challenges for this position) and even if there are many complaints about the excessive price of French wines, their production for many people is above all other. The explanation is partially historical. Wine-drinking in Europe has been part of every-day life since at least the Roman times. But it was only in the 18th century that a concept of quality was developed, and with it, the idea that individual vineyards and vintages could be a matter for discussion and cultivated enjoyment. The first wine connoisseurs ghatered in the salons of Paris in the age of the French Regency, and the wines they appreciated were for the most part French. The classifications of the great vineyards of Bordeaux and Burgundy came soon, in the 19th century. At this point the wine drunk at the tables of wealthy people ceased to be just a drink and became an art. France has been a pioneer in the fight for quality and authenticity, and now, also if many other countries produce fine wines, is still enjoying the results of its dedication.
French geography
French viticulture is governed by three great river systems and a wide range of mountains. The Gironde and its tributaries, the Dordogne and Garonne, encompass not only Bordeaux, the largest quality wine region of France, but also a number of smaller wine-producing areas. The Rhone and its tributary, the Saone, account for two great regions, the Rhone itself and the Beaujolais, Maconnais and Cote d'Or, districts of Burgundy. The Loire, the longest and greatest river in France, effectively marks the northern limit to French viticulture in the west, providing a great variety of wines all the way from Muscadet to Pouilly Fumé and Sancerre. And, finally, the Vosges mountains provide a special micro-climate for the western side of the Rhine valley, enabling the grapes of Alsace to ripen to a degree unusual in such latitudes. These areas encompass all the great and some of the less known wines of France. Champagne is in a different category. Here the difference is made by the process of production rather than the quality of the raw material.
French appellations
French wines have always been famous all over the world. And of course, there was a lot of competition in order to imitate their wines by "borrowing" their original names. For this reason, French wine producers started to protect themselves from the abuse coming from countries with more favorable climate for growing grapes. The result was the system of Appelations controlées which achieved its final form in 1935. This system defines the areas where vines can be planted if a wine is to bear a certain name. It also lays down the type or types of vine allowed, how many may be planted per hectar, how much they may produce, the minimum alcoholic degree and few other aspects.
