Best Wine Regions in France – Map & Wine Tours

Famous French Wine Regions

This article lists the famous wine regions in France and how to plan your trip around them. If you are in a hurry, jump to the list here.

Many people coming to France want to enjoy the beauty, quality, and once-in-a-lifetime experience of touring the best French wine regions.

If you are looking at the wine regions of France map but have no idea where to go, I can help. This quick guide to the Best Wine Regions in France will give you everything you need to know in order to plan your trip around one of the famous French wine regions.

In this guide, I list the 5 famous regions in France, plus a couple of favorites, with a brief description of what to expect, the best wine tours, as well as self-guided options. Diversity of terroirs and winemaking traditions makes the French wine country an exceptional destination for wine lovers, so wherever you decide to go, it will be a great choice!

Compare the Best Wine Tours in France

TIP: Want to ensure your wine makes it home?  Check our wine tote bags and wine suitcases quick guide

Best Wine Regions of France Map (with cities)

Wine is one of the famous French drinks, if not the most famous, and you can find good French wine production in almost every region of France.

Most people associate wine in France with the famous French wine regions of Champagne, Bordeaux, and even Bourgogne, and these are considered some of the best wines in the world. However, there are so many other amazing wine regions in France that shouldn’t be overlooked during your trip planning.

On this Best Wine Regions in France Map with cities, you can see just how many options you have to explore, taste, and experience good French wine. Here is the list of the famous wine regions in France in no particular order:

1. Bourgogne (Burgundy)
2. Bordeaux
3. Val de Loire (Loire Valley)
4. Vallée du Rhône (Rhône Valley)
5. Languedoc – Roussillon
6. Alsace
7. Provence
8. Champagne

TIP: Check out one of these vineyard stays in France for the ultimate epicurean experience!

1. Bourgogne Wine Region (Burgundy)

The Burgundy Wine Region is, in my opinion, the best wine region in France. It is found in the French departments of Yonne, Côte d’Or, and Saône-et-Loire, and, like many of the other wine regions in France, is comprised of several sub-wine regions: Châblis, Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune, Côte Chalonnaise, and Mâconnais.

If you like the idea of road-tripping in France, consider this Route des Grands Crus road trip from Beaune to Dijon or vice-versa. The Route des Grands Crus in Burgundy is one of the most famous wine trails in France!

2. Bordeaux Wine Region

The Bordeaux Wine Region is not only one of the 5 famous wine regions in France to visit, but is also one of the largest. It is located in South West France, right along the ocean, giving the wine unique mineral qualities, but also a direct advantage in shipping to other destinations.

The Bordeaux wine region is divided into several production areas, all offering excellent selections. Popular wine areas to visit on Bordeaux wine tours are the Médoc along the Route des Châteaux (on the Left Bank of the Gironde Estuary), Saint-Émilion (on the Right Bank of the Dordogne River), and Graves (on the Left Bank of the Garonne River).

The wine of Bordeaux is often dominated by reds and blends (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot), but also delicious whites (Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon). You can typically expect to find high prices for the most prestigious labels, but you’ll be rewarded with high-quality wine for the price.

3. Val de Loire Wine Region (Loire Valley)

Another major producer and one of the largest wine regions of France is the Val de Loire wine region, where you can find some of the best wines in France. The Loire Valley Wine Region is divided into four big areas (Pays Nantais, Anjou-Saumur, Touraine, Centre) and 51 AOCs.

If you are looking for lighter wines, these French vineyards are right up your alley. There are great selections of lighter red wines, delicate and fruity white wines, sweet rosés, and a large production of crémants (sparkling wines). The main grape varieties here are Melon, Chenin, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay for the whites, and Cabernet Franc, Gamay, Pinot Noir, Côt, and Cabernet Sauvignon for the reds.

If you are based in the French capital and looking to experience the wine culture of France, consider a Loire Valley wine tour from Paris, or just visit one of the many wineries in the Loire Valley yourself on a self-guided wine tour. Being so close to Paris, the Loire Valley is a fantastic day trip from Paris or a weekend getaway option.

4. Vallée du Rhône Wine Region (Rhône Valley) 

Another of the best French wine regions to visit is the Vallée du Rhône or Rhône Valley. From Vienne to the Luberon and scattered around the meandering Rhône River, this major export region of France is split into the “Northern Rhône” and the “Southern Rhône” areas.

The wines of the Rhône Valley are often some of the most expensive wines you can buy. In the North, you will find famous crus like Côte Rotie, Condrieu, Saint-Joseph, and Crozes-Hermitage. These prestigious wines are made from Syrah (reds) and Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne (whites).

Heading South, the GSM blend (Grenache, Syrah, Morvèdre) dominates, and you will find world-class crus like Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas.

5. Languedoc-Roussillon Wine Region

The Languedoc–Roussillon Wine Region, while not as famous as some of the other best wine regions in France to visit, is actually one of the largest wine-producing regions in the world by vineyard surface area. More than 2/3 of the wine production here is labelled IGP (Indication Géographique Protegée).

These South of France vineyards are often known as some of the best wines at really affordable prices and include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah. There are plenty of quality whites as well, made of grape varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Grenache, and Muscat Blanc.

This area, and particularly the Roussillon, is also known for its Vins Doux Naturels (or naturally sweet wines). This kind of wine is obtained by stopping the natural fermentation with the addition of alcohol.

6. Alsace Wine Region

The Alsace Wine Region is another beautiful area to explore. Being so close to Germany, the region of Alsace shares many characteristics with its Eastern neighbor, from its latticed buildings to its wine production techniques.   

This is one of the best wine regions to visit in France because it combines history, culture, and delicious wines. The wines of Alsace are often dry white wines, and there are also some sweet varieties and crémants (sparkling wines). You can find delicious Rieslings, Gewürztraminers, and Pinot Gris. The land and climate primarily lend themselves to white wines, but you can still find some reds made of Pinot Noir.

The best way to explore it is by following the Alsace Wine Route, a fun road trip itinerary that combines fairytale Alsace villages and great food and wines. There are also many half-day or day wine tours with departures from Strasbourg and Colmar.

7. Provence Wine Region 

If you are heading to the Mediterranean coast in France, then consider touring the Provence Wine Region, located only a few kilometers Northwest of Nice. While a lesser-known and not as popular as other France wine regions, the area of Provence is simply stunning, and you can find some fantastic wines here, like so much of France.

There are 8 appellations in Provence, each with distinct characteristics depending on the soil, grape varieties used, and wine-making decisions: Côtes de Provence, Côteaux-d’Aix-en-Provence, Côteaux-Varois-en-Provence, Les Baux-de-Provence, Cassis, Bandol, Palette, and Bellet.

The wine region of Provence produces 90% of rosé wines, but you can also find some delicious reds and whites. You can find red grape varieties like Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, and Cabernet Sauvignon here, as well as white grape varieties such as Ugni Blanc, Sémillon, and Clairette.

Provence is dotted with vineyards and wine shops all over, many of which offer their wine-tasting experiences.

TIP: Check out how to serve French wine at the correct temperature to enhance its taste

8. Champagne Wine Region 

The Champagne Wine Region just might be one of the most famous on the French wine regions map, if not even the world. While many vineyards in the world produce sparkling wine, it can only be labeled as “Champagne wine” if it was produced in the historical Champagne region.

The Champagne region is located in the Northeast section of France, not far from Belgium and Luxembourg. It is one of the best French wine regions to visit near Paris, with some of the most prestigious wineries in France.

While the most famous wine of Champagne is Champagne itself, you can also find delicious dry wines from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Due to the climate, you can expect lighter, drier, and crisper wines than the sweeter varieties found elsewhere in France.

The best way to explore this wine region is by car – check out this Champagne Road trip itinerary for inspiration. There are also many Champagne tours from Paris, Reims, and Epernay.

And there you have it, our quick guide to the best wine regions in France to visit and the best wine tours for each one.

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