May 21, 2009

Why French Wine is Still King of the Hill

France has the largest wine production of any country in the world, producing between seven to eight billion bottles every year. There are a number of wine making regions dotted around France with some areas being dated as far back as 600 BC.

The wines produced today vary across the gambit of the pricing structure with both expensive and lower priced wines available worldwide. In recent years, France has had to adapt to match the rest of the emerging world in wine production and distribution as the world grows smaller with modern technologies.
The French have been very protective of their origins in recent years, and rightly so, with the use of specific terms such as Bordeaux, Champagne and Burgundy now only apply to wines from those particular areas in France.

The AOC (Appellation d’Origine Controlee) system are the guidelines that are used to preserve the wine production and naming rights for all wine producing regions of France. The AOE system is enforced by a governing body, which determines the winemaking practices and grape varieties used in each region.

Another French term that is held close to the heart is “terrior” which is used to indicate the natural growing conditions of the vineyard, such as soil, temperature and slope of the land.

A good portion of the most popular gape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah all originally hail from the vineyards of France. As exploration and colonization spread across the globe, these popular varieties of grape were brought along and planted in numerous ‘new wold’ countries.

The spread of grapes across many countries also brought with it a number of winemakers armed with the knowledge of French winemaking techniques.

The rich history embedded in the French winemaking conjures up dreamy images of the roving vinewyards of France. It has remained a leader in grape varieties, wine sales and production for hundreds of years. In the same breath without leaving its age old traditions behind.

Its little wonder why French wine remains in high demand across the world.

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April 13, 2009

Investing In Fine Wines

French wines

Investments come in many different forms, such as stocks and bonds, race horses, baseball cards and many others. When looking to start an investment in something, it is always best to think slightly out of the box. If you want to invest in something that will be fun and laid back, then consider investing in fine wines. The best wines command high prices, especially if they have aged over a number of years. This article will teach you how to invest in wine efficiently.

Before you start purchasing any ol’ bottle of wine you will want to learn everything you can about wine. There are a few ways you can go about this. You can choose to do it on your own. Gather up some books and learn the basics on how vintage wines are made, everything from genetics of the vine to the climate. All of this will be important when choosing your fine wines. You can also employ the expertise of someone called a sommelier, which is a person who purchases high-end wines for restaurants and clubs. Having a sommelier at your beck and call can be handy after you have begun investing as well.

There is no telling where investing in fine wines will take you when you have all the right knowledge and tools. If you are interested in French wines, then maybe it will take you to France. Keep in mind that you will want to choose one particular area of wine country and keep your investments within that region. You can decide by visiting different places and learning about their procedures and more importantly, their reputations. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Wine makers are usually more than happy to explain their processes and to tell how regarded their vintage wines are.

Without any doubt, you will develop knowledge of fine wines, but there are still a few things you should be cautious of. Just because a wine is expensive does not mean it is of good quality. It might mean it is a fad at the moment. Also, be aware that a lot of wines are made today with the main purpose of being consumed, and this means that they do not hold a shelf life of over a few years. With a mind full of knowledge and respect for wine, you shouldn’t have any trouble at all investing in the best of the best!

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December 13, 2008

French Wines - Facts About French Wines You Should Know

France is known for its excellent top quality wines production. Europe it is the oldest region where wine is produced. Their history of wine making dates back to the olden days during the Roman times. Actually, it was this period that wine making expertise was exported to other region in France.

All over the world, France is known for its quality wines. In fact it was from the ‘French Paradox’, a medical finding that observed that despite the French population’s diet rich in fats, their risk of getting coronary disease remains significantly low. The trend has been attributed to their fascination for wine drinking. The development prompted many studies devoted to finding possible wine health benefits to the body.

Wine making process in France

The process used in wine making can be adjudge an art form. Given that each wine maker can add his or her personal touch to the wine making process. The final result of wine after going through the making process is determined by so many factors, for example, the climate, time of harvesting, terroir, fermentation period etc. Wine makers are solely responsible for regulating all these contributing factors.

Who drinks French wines

Champagne, Burgundy wine, and Bordeaux wine are some of the best wines produced in various regions of France. In the past, usually people of France only consumed wine produced in their locality. Easy access to rails, roads and other form of transportation has made wine more easily available throughout the country. It is widely known that French are the highest consumer of their own wines. Although over the years there has been a decrease in this trend. So it has now become important for France to rely on exporting their wine. Due to quality wines made from other parts of the globe emerging, French wines popularity has been reduced.

Terroir

This is a phrase that originates from France. It refers to the natural traits in wine making that are assign to the wine by a particular vineyard. Every vineyard is widely believed to have its own unique composition that can affect the final result of the wine. Some of these include: soil type, altitude, how the vineyard is managed, how much sun the plants in the vineyards are exposed to, etc.

It is absolutely clear that French wines are popular among wine expert.  Not only do they have an excellent tradition of wine making in France, but the wines that they produce speak for themselves.

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