| Most people are very confused when it comes to | | | | Chardonnay. |
| wine. Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Burgundy, | | | | Southern regions, such as the Rhone Valley produces |
| Beaujolais, dry, sweet, etc... What do all these names | | | | mostly red wines because the red grape does better |
| really mean? | | | | in the basking southern sun than the white does. |
| If you live in America, you might like to know that | | | | Northern regions, such as Alsace produces mostly |
| such names like Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir or | | | | white wines, since the white grape is a better fit for |
| Chardonnay which you see on bottle tags, are simply | | | | cooler regions. |
| the names of the grapes that wines are made of, | | | | What France calls Appellation d'Origine Controlee |
| which are the French names of the grapes. | | | | (AOC) is a wine making regulation which includes the |
| Interestingly enough, however, France does not use | | | | better wines of France. It is a bit similar to the |
| the name of the grapes on wine bottles, but rather | | | | American Viticultural Areas (AVA), but the difference |
| the name of the domain or region the wine was | | | | is that the (AVA) specifies only a geographical area |
| made in. This is where a common confusion comes | | | | where at least 85% of the grapes used to make a |
| from. When you see the names "Beaujolais" or | | | | wine must have grown. It doesn't include a specific |
| "Cabernet Sauvignon" on labels, you may not know | | | | quality like the French (AOC). |
| what they really mean. In this case, Beaujolais is a | | | | Dry or Sweet? |
| region of the Rhone Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon | | | | Most wines in France are dry, which means not |
| is the name of a red grape. | | | | sweet. This is because in France wine is to be drunk |
| Here are some basic pointers about French wine that | | | | with meals, and meals as a rule, are to be enjoyed |
| will help you understand better your California wine. | | | | with a non-sweet wine. Sweet wines are mostly |
| The reason why France doesn't use the grape's | | | | reserved for desserts. Even Demi-sec (semi-sweet) |
| name on wine bottles is that each wine region is | | | | wines are also preferred with desserts in France. |
| usually known and associated with one or two types | | | | Red or White? |
| of specific grapes. | | | | Red and white wines also have their foods. For |
| For example, the red wines from the region of | | | | example, fish and salads are preferred with whites, |
| Bourgogne (which is known as Burgundy in the United | | | | while meats and pastas are eaten with reds. |
| States) are all made from Pinot Noir, and all the white | | | | Champagne, the distinguished expensive sparkling |
| wines are made from Chardonnay. Bordeaux wines | | | | white wine from that region, is also preferred with |
| are made from Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot, and | | | | desserts and usually served at the end of special |
| Beaujolais wines are mostly made from Gamay and | | | | meals. |