A Quick Guide to the
Wine Regions of France

Along with Italy, France is le maître of Old World wine While there are burgeoning wine scenes in more and more countries and regions all over the globe, France has been there since the beginning, consistently putting out some of the world’s finest bottles year after year. And when you’re discussing the crème de la crème of French wine, the conversation begins with Bordeaux and Burgundy.

Our Top 2 Wine Regions of France

The Bordeaux Wine Region of France

Located in southwestern France on the Atlantic coast, the Bordeaux region stretches inland along the Gironde Estuary and Dordogne and Garonne Rivers. This is significant for a few reasons: First, the rivers and coastal access allowed for easy export, and Bordeaux wine quickly became a status symbol as wealthy merchants carried it abroad.

Second, the Gironde Estuary plays an important role in how Bordeaux wines are blended and classified. Over 90% of Bordeaux reds are a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon; a winery’s location on either the Left Bank or Right Bank of the Gironde determines whether that blend is driven by Cabernet or Merlot. Wines produced in the Left Bank have a higher proportion of Cabernet, while Right Bank wines have a higher proportion of Merlot. Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc are sometimes added to the blend as well, but Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are always in the driver’s seat.

Left Bank soil tends to be more gravelly, and yields wines that are generally bolder, higher in tannins and alcohol, and ideal for aging. The Right Bank has red clay and limestone soil and produces wines that are a bit softer, with fewer tannins and lower alcohol content. These wines offer more fruit and berry flavors compared to the smoky, spice flavors of the Left Bank Bordeaux.

The Burgundy Wine Region of France

As opposed to its coastal counterpart, Burgundy is landlocked in eastern-central France. Burgundy, or Bourgogne in French, is renowned for producing some of the world's finest wines, particularly from the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grape varieties. The top wines from Burgundy often come from its prestigious Grand Cru vineyards. The region stretches from Dijon in the north to Mâcon in the south, while the Chablis sub-region lies a bit further to the north and east—close to the city of Auxerre. Winemaking in the area dates back to the 1st century AD, but the Catholic monks in the Middle Ages really cultivated the land and honed production techniques as they made wines for the church and aristocracy.