![]() As with most wine regions, many winegrowing areas follow, or are adjacent to, alluvial systems and rivers, combining both favorable geography and, going back in time, transport for commerce. RiversĮach region and subregion can be defined by its particular geographical features, which in turn create specific characteristics in the wines produced there. These have numerous regional incarnations, including Pineau des Charentes in the wider Cognac region, Floc de Gascogne in the South West and Macvin du Jura in the east. A "liqueur d'expedition" or the dosage in Champagne often uses a little Brandy (often Cognac specifically produced for Champagne) while the vin doux naturels such as Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise – much like Port wine – add spirit to fermenting must as part of their production process.Ī number of wine regions see neutral brandy added to fresh grape must to produce a sweet, grapey drink of around 16 percent alcohol. Indeed, distillation often runs parallel to regional production.This includes both wine, such as Armagnac in the South West and the likes of Eau-de-Vie de Marc de Bourgogne in Burgundy, and cider, which in Normandy, in the north, gives rise to Calvados.īeyond spirits, eaux-de-vies also sustain a host of other beverages. ![]() These run from the mountains and hills in the east, which house both the Savoie and Jura regions, (and, further south, the less well-known IGP Alpes-Maritimes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence) to the low-lying lands in the west, including the lower Loire valley (and the likes of Muscadet) and the greater Cognac region south of the Loire and north of Bordeaux. The country's large number of independently recognized wine regions and subregions reflects its wide range of soil types – and the landscapes that created them. Indeed, geology and topography play equally important roles in the diversity of French wine. The South West, however, finds itself influenced by by the Mediterranean and Atlantic climates (it is a geographical inbetweener – often expressed in the style and makeup of its wines). In France's deep south, Provence and Languedoc-Roussillon enjoy a definitively Mediterranean climate, characterized by hot summers and relatively mild winters. Far from any oceanic influence, eastern regions such as Burgundy and Alsace have a continental climate, with warm, dry summers and cold winters. Champagne, its most northerly region, has one of the coolest climates anywhere in the wine-growing world – in stark contrast to the warm, dry Rhône Valley 560km (350 miles) away in the southeast.īordeaux, in the southwest, has a maritime climate heavily influenced by the Atlantic ocean to its west and the various rivers that wind their way between its vineyards. The diversity of French wine is due, in part, to the country's wide range of climates. Red, white, rosé, sweet, dry, sparkling, opulent, austere, mineral-scented, fruity – French vineyards have produced wines to match each of these descriptors. Consumer preferences have changed over the centuries, encouraging the development of new styles of wine from the terrain and grape varieties available to France's vignerons. The enduring attraction of French wine is not necessarily its volume or prestige, however, but rather the variety of styles available. Wine is ingrained in French culture at almost every level of society it is the drink of both the elite and the common people, and a key symbol in Roman Catholicism, France's majority religion. ![]() For centuries, it has produced wine in greater quantity – and of reportedly greater quality – than any other nation. Prehistory, castles and gastronomy are particularly attractive to tourists.The Clos du Vougeot Grand Cru vineyard and chateau, Cote de Nuits, Burgundy | © Massimo Santi - France – the home of Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne – is arguably the world's most important wine-producing country. It is thanks to this exceptional wealth that has developed a tourism that should be described as "cultural", so many good reasons to come to Dordogne. Thanks to the diversity and preservation of its heritage, the Dordogne is one of the most sought-after tourist regions for French and foreign tourists. Welcoming and steeped in history, the Lot-et-Garonne offers a host of cultural, recreational and leisure activities for beautiful holidays in the heart of the South West. gastronomy and local products are all part of its identity. Agen prunes, Marmande tomatoes, strawberries, kiwis, wines. Gourmand and generous, it is the first French department for the diversity of its cultivated fruits and vegetables. Authentic and friendly, it promises warm encounters to all lovers of green tourism. South-West in Lot-et-Garonne! Located in Aquitaine, between Bordeaux and Toulouse, the Lot-et-Garonne embodies all the values that found the spirit of the Southwest.
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