The regions of France
Choose a region to read its guide, then move closer through its named subregions.
- 01Alsace45 producersIn Alsace, grape names often lead the label, but slope, soil and village matter too. Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Noir range from dry to late-harvest sweet, shaped by the Vosges rain shadow and 51 named grand cru sites.
- 02Beaujolais22 producersBeaujolais is Gamay country south of Burgundy. Broad regional wines lead to ten crus, where granite, altitude and village identity give the grape a more distinct character than its Nouveau reputation suggests.
- 03Bordeaux167 producersBordeaux comes into focus when the rivers do the sorting. The Left Bank centres on Cabernet and gravel, the Right Bank on Merlot and limestone-clay, while Entre-Deux-Mers supplies dry whites and Sauternes and Barsac bring botrytised sweet wine into the picture.
- 04Bourgogne195 producersBourgogne shows how Pinot Noir and Chardonnay change with place. From Chablis limestone through the Côte d'Or, the Côte Chalonnaise and the Mâconnais, the place name on the label becomes increasingly specific.
- 05Champagne262 producersChampagne's five sub-regions share chalk beneath the vineyards, while Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier lead in different places. Large houses blend broadly across the region; growers make wines from their own vineyards, often with a closer link to one village.
- 06Corse10 producersCorse brings granite hillsides, limestone pockets, sea wind and high passes into its wines. Niellucciu anchors the firm reds of Patrimonio, Sciaccarellu brings perfume around Ajaccio, and Vermentinu leads the island's white-wine story.
- 07Jura31 producersJura is small, with its own way of making wine. Savagnin becomes Vin Jaune under voile, Chardonnay ranges from mineral to oxidative styles, and Poulsard or Trousseau make pale, aromatic reds that are serious without being heavy.
- 08Languedoc62 producersLanguedoc is a large Mediterranean wine region in France, with limestone, schist, coast, terraces and cooler foothills all in the mix. Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Carignan shape many reds, while Limoux contributes white and sparkling wines. Pic Saint-Loup, Terrasses du Larzac, Faugères, Corbières and Limoux give the region its different accents.
- 09Loire126 producersThe Loire runs from Atlantic Muscadet to inland Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc country. Its four sub-regions differ in grapes, soils and styles, so it makes more sense to explore them one by one than to expect a single Loire style.
- 10Other producers105 producersThese producers are listed here with no more specific region shown.
- 11Provence39 producersProvence is France's Mediterranean region for rosé. Bandol Mourvèdre, Cassis whites, Palette, Les Baux and inland reds add range to the map.
- 12Roussillon5 producersRoussillon is France's Catalan wine corner, between the Pyrenees, the Mediterranean and Catalonia. Grenache, Carignan, schist and limestone shape dry wines alongside historic fortified styles, while the Côte Vermeille brings steep sea-facing terraces to Collioure and Banyuls.
- 13Savoie23 producersSavoie is France's Alpine wine region, with steep slopes, cool nights, lakes and varied soils. Jacquère, Altesse, Gringet and Mondeuse lead the way, making wines with freshness, texture and a clear sense of place.
- 14Sud-Ouest27 producersSud-Ouest stretches south and east of Bordeaux through a group of very different wine places. Cahors is known for Malbec, Madiran for Tannat, Jurançon for Manseng, and Gaillac for grapes such as Duras, Braucol, Mauzac and Len de l'El.
- 15Vallée du Rhône125 producersAbove Valence, the northern Rhône runs through narrow granite terraces, with steep slopes for Syrah and Viognier. South of Montélimar, the valley widens into warmer country, where Grenache-led blends, rosé and garrigue are part of the southern crus.