Wine Art in France

Although Spain has the largest area under grape vine cultivation, the honor of being the largest producer of wine in the world goes to France. In terms of vine cultivation area, France ranks second and is tied with Italy in that respect. Bordeaux is the most famous wine cultivation area in France. However, the best French wine comes from Burgundy.

Nearly fifty varieties of grapes are cultivated in vineyards in France out of the approximately 1000 varieties cultivated worldwide. There are basically two varieties of French wines, namely red wine and white wine.

The important grape varieties used in France for French red wine include Pinot Noir, Syrah, Cabernat Franc, Gamay, Cabernat-Sauvignon, Grenache, and Carignan.  Those for French white wine include Chenin, Colombard, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Semillon, Chenin, and Melon.

The quality of French wine depends on the climatic conditions in a given year, the expertise of the French wine connoisseurs and those of the winemakers. It also depends on the variety of the grape vines and of the ground under cultivation.

The French winemakers' association ONIVINS (Office National Interprofessional des Vins) supervises the entire wine making operations in France. This includes the plantation of young vines, the actual wine making, and the distribution and marketing of wine bottles. An official arm of the French Ministry of Agriculture and Budget regulates the French wine industry in France.

France recognizes four distinct levels of wine. They include vin de table (table wine), vin de pays (country wine), ins d'Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) wines, and Vins Délimités de Qualité Supérieure (VDQS). The production conditions for each are different and thereby the different quality levels are produced.

Out of them the least regulated production is that of table wine and it is the lowest quality French wine. Country wine is produced in precisely demarcated geographical areas in France. AOC wines are the over 400 varieties that have received official recognition primarily because of the defined rich soil they have been produced in.

However, other environmental considerations are also factored in while recognizing them as AOC. The AOC wine feature the adherence to a minimum alcohol level and specified aging conditions. The VDQS wine is a variety of French wine that falls between the AOC and the country wine in quality.

However, some of the country wines have much better taste. The taste of French wine depends on the tweaking effects through mixing that wine tasters, proficient in their skills, impart to a specific quality wine. It is also well known that aging imparts better taste to any wine.

The acidity, the sweetness/bitterness of a French wine also affects its quality. Last but not least the pairing of a specific cuisine with a specific French wine to go with it decides the experience of diners. The sommelier can affect a diner's reaction to a French wine through specific pairing.