With a few exceptions such as ports and Rieslings, France has traditionally set the standard for fine wines. Each of its wine-growing regions, or appellations, produces wines that are the point of reference for winemakers around the world. In fact, it is generally believed that the French have grown and made wine for almost 3,000 years. With the Roman occupation, many improvements were made to French viticulture, and as the centuries passed, additional knowledge about best grape growing and winemaking practices was accumulated. This enabled a breakthrough - the founding in 1935 of the Institute Des Appellations d'Origine, the first countrywide system for controlling and designating the quality of wines. Based on geographical regions (appellations), the system takes into account the unique influences of a specific terrain and climate, and can include many subcategories and classifications. It also helps to deter against the marketing of inferior blends. As a result, many countries have adopted similar systems of classification and control, particularly those in Europe.


Alsace

A beautiful strip of land bordering the Vosges Mountains in northeast France, Alsace was once part of Germany and its winemakers use the same grapes as their German cousins - particularly the Riesling and Gewurztraminer varieties.

Despite using the same grapes, their winemaking techniques differ and Alsatian Rieslings and Gewurztraminers are usually dryer and more balanced. Cremant d'Alsace is a very famous Alsatian sparkling wine, and for those who enjoy a sweeter wine with a more pronounced flavor, there is the late-harvest Vendange Tardive, made from several varieties including Rielsing, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Muscat.


Bordeaux

Located in southwest France, the Bordeaux region epitomizes the height of traditional French winemaking, producing some of the finest red and white wines in the world. The Bordeaux region is further subdivided into many districts, of which the most important are Pomerol, Saint-Emilion, Graves, Sauternes, and Medoc. Medoc is the largest of these, with many well-known sub-appellations including Margaux, Pauillac, Saint-Estephe, Haut-Medoc, and Saint-Julien. There are many dozens more sub-appellations, as well as thousands of individual Chateaux such as the familiar Lafite-Rothschild and Margaux. By far the greatest percentage of all wine produced in Bordeaux is from red grapes, with the primary varieties being Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. In fact, red wine makes up almost 75 percent of production. However, Bordeaux is also renowned for is sweet, white Sauternes, produced from vine-ripened Sauvignon Blanc and Semillion.


Burgundy

Outside of France, Burgundy is the generic name for ordinary table wine. In France, it refers to one of the world's great winemaking areas. Southeast of Paris, Burgundy consists of five basic regions: Chablis, Cote D'Or, Cote Chalonnaise, Maconnais, and Beaujolais. Pinot Noir and Gamay are the primary grape varieties used for red wines, and Sauvingon Blanc is the primary white grape. Single villages are allowed to place their name on the label, further distinguishing the wine, as in Pommard or Fleurie, Premier Cru on the label is an assurance that a chateaux can be relied upon to consistently produce exceptional wines. In Bordeaux, the Cru class designation is less reliable.


Champagne

While effervescent wines are produced throughout the world, true champagne comes only from the north of France, and refers to both a region and a method of winemaking - the Methode Champenoise, which can produce champagnes that range from dry (brut) to slightly sweet (demi-sec). The villages of the Champagne that grow grapes for making champagne are rated according to the quality of their grapes. Less than 20 villages out of nearly 275 villages have earned the top rating of Premier Cru. Dom Perignon, a 17^th century monk, is credited with creating true champagne by blending different wines. The Grand Marque, or great brands, of Champagne include Perrier-Jouet, Piper Heidsieck, Moet Chandon, Mumm, and Veuve Clicquot. Many of these wineries also produce expensive sparkling wines such as Cristal from Louis Roederer and Dom Perignon from Moet & Chandon. In the United States and some other countries, it is legal to use the term "champagne" for what is actually a sparkling wine produced by the French Methode Champenoise.


Loire

One of the great white wine regions, the area around the Loire River produces an incredible variety of wines - including dry table wine, sweet dessert wine, and sparkling wine. Unblended Sauvignon Blance grapes produce the famous Pouilly-Fume and Sancerre appellations. Chenin Blanc wines come under the Touraine appellation, and include smaller appellations such as the well-known sparkling dry wine Vouvray. Anjou is noted for its rosé wines, Rose d'Anjou and Cabernet d'Anjou.


Rhone

Mostly a red-wine producing region, the north Rhone deserves credit for its fermentations using the Syrah grape and includes such appellations as Chateau-Grillet and Hermitage. But by far the most famous appellation is Chateauneuf-du-Pape, which includes both a red wine produced from Grenache Noir grapes and a white produced from Grenache Blanc.