Best Wine Regions in France – Map & Wine Tours

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Wine Regions in France Map

You can find good French wine production in almost every region of France (although the North coast doesn’t have as favorable conditions as the rest of the country).

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

On this Best Wine Regions in France Map, you can see just how many options you have to explore, taste, and experience good French wine. The best wine regions France has to offer are the following:

• Bordeaux
• Burgundy
• Provence
• Loire Valley
• Côtes du Rhône
• Languedoc – Roussillon
• Alsace
• Champagne

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

1. Wine of Bordeaux

The Bordeaux Wine Region is not only one of the most famous French wine regions but is also one of the largest. It is located in South West France, right along the sea, giving the wine unique mineral qualities, but also a direct advantage in shipping to other destinations. The wine of Bordeaux is so good that many estates get to sell it as a ‘Grand Cru’ (one of the highest wine standards one can achieve).

The Bordeaux wine region is divided into several production areas, all offering excellent selections. Popular areas to visit on Bordeaux wine tours are the Médoc and its 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. You can typically expect to find high prices here, but you’ll be rewarded with high-quality wine for the price.

2. Wine of Burgundy 

The Burgundy Wine Region is, in our opinion, the best wine region in France. It is found near Eastern-Central France and, like many of the other wine regions in France, is comprised of several sub-regions and towns. The Wine Region of Burgundy includes famous sub-regions such as Châblis, Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune, Côte Chalonnaise, Maconnais, and Beaujolais.

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.

3. Wine of Provence 

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 wine regions in France, the area of Provence is simply stunning, and you can find some fantastic wines here, like so much of France.

There are nine wine regions in Provence, with distinct characteristics that affect the grapes and wines made in them: Côtes de Provence, Coteaux-d’Aix-en-Provence, Coteaux-Varois-en-Provence, Les-Baux-de-Provence, Cassis, Bandol, Palette, Bellet, and Coteaux-de-Pierrevert.

Due to the warm climate and proximity to the sea, these South of France vineyards have a wide range of excellent grapes that are often full-bodied and absolutely perfect table wine options!

You can find red wines like syrah, cabernet sauvignon, and cinsaut here, as well as whites like ugni blanc, sémillon, clairette and some absolutely fantastic rosés.

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

4. Wine of Loire Valley 

Another major producer and one of the largest wine regions of France is the Loire Valley, where you can find some of the best wines in France. The Loire Valley Wine Region is divided into five sub-regions and 58 AOC: Pays Nantais, Anjou-Saumur, Touraine, Centre, and Auvergne.

If you are looking for lighter wines, these French vineyards are right up your alley. There are great selections of lighter red wines, delicate, fruity white wines, sweet rosés, and a large production of sparkling wines.

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 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 from Paris option.

5. Côtes du Rhône Wine 

Another best wine region France has to offer is found in the Rhône Valley, in Southeastern France, scattered around the meandering Rhône River. From Vienne to the Luberon, this major export region of France is so large it is split into the “‘Northern Rhone“‘ and the “‘Southern Rhone” areas.  

The wines of the Rhône Valley, also known as Côtes du Rhône Wine, are often some of the most expensive wines you can buy. Heading South, white wines are the prominent grape, such as grenache blanc, marsanne, roussanne, and viognier. However, don’t skimp on the red wines, such as the syrah and wonderful blends.

6. Wines of Languedoc–Roussillon

The Languedoc–Roussillon Wine Region, while not as famous (by name alone) as some of the other best wine regions in France to visit, is actually one of the largest wine-producing regions in France by vineyard surface area and produces massive amounts of wine annually.

These South of France vineyards are often known as some of the best wines at really affordable prices and include merlot, cabernet, and syrah. There are plenty of quality whites as well, such as sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, grenache, and muscat blanc.

7. Wine of Alsace

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, sparkling sweet varieties, and rosés. 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 sweeter reds as well as roses in Alsace as well.

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 wine. There are also many half-day or day wine tours with departures from Strasbourg and Colmar.

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 North East 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 best wineries in France.

While the most famous wine of Champagne is champagne itself, you can actually also find pinot noir and chardonnay in the Champagne region as well. Due to the climate, you can expect lighter, dryer, 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 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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