Posts Tagged ‘French wines’
French Wine – Full Bodied with a Full History
With an annual production of seven to eight billion bottles per year, its no wonder France is the most famous and highest wine producing country in the world. There are a number of wine making regions dotted around France with some areas being dated as far back as 600 BC.
The wines produced today reflect a changing world, with a larger range of pricing, both cheaper and expensive, available to consumers. With changing technology in both manufacturing and transportation, France has been forced to adapt to remain on top of the winemaking list.
The French have been very protective of their origins in recent years, and rightly so, with the use of specific terms such as Bordeaux, Champagne and Burgundy now only apply to wines from those particular areas in France.
The AOC (Appellation d’Origine Controlee) system are the guidelines that are used to preserve the wine production and naming rights for all wine producing regions of France. The body in charge of the AOE guidelines determines exactly which winemaking practices and grape varieties are allowed to be used in each region.
Another French term that is held close to the heart is “terrior” which is used to indicate the natural growing conditions of the vineyard, such as soil, temperature and slope of the land.
A number of the most famous and prominent grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah all originally came from the vineyards of France. The last few hundred years of exploration and colonization has seen the spread on both number and popularity of these grape varieties across the globe.
However, not only the grape varieties were brought over and with them came people with the knowledge of French winemaking techniques.
The long and proud history of French wine has added to its mystique. It has managed to stay at the forefront of wine sales, grape varieties and wine production levels. To top it off, it has managed to continue to this day while still holding on to its age old winemaking traditions.
Its little wonder why French wine remains in high demand across the world.
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An Overview Of Fine Wines As An Investment
If you have ever been wine tasting, then you know, for that moment in time, it gives you the feeling for the finer things in life. Imagine having that feeling all the time and investing in high value items in the same instance. You can do just that by investing in fine wines. The best wines, especially if they are in high demand, will be a worthy investment for the person looking to have a good time and earn money.
Before you start purchasing any ol’ bottle of wine you will want to learn everything you can about wine. There are a few ways you can go about this. You can choose to do it on your own. Gather up some books and learn the basics on how vintage wines are made, everything from genetics of the vine to the climate. All of this will be important when choosing your fine wines. You can also employ the expertise of someone called a sommelier, which is a person who purchases high-end wines for restaurants and clubs. Having a sommelier at your beck and call can be handy after you have begun investing as well.
There is no telling where investing in fine wines will take you when you have all the right knowledge and tools. If you are interested in French wines, then maybe it will take you to France. Keep in mind that you will want to choose one particular area of wine country and keep your investments within that region. You can decide by visiting different places and learning about their procedures and more importantly, their reputations. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Wine makers are usually more than happy to explain their processes and to tell how regarded their vintage wines are.
Without any doubt, you will develop knowledge of fine wines, but there are still a few things you should be cautious of. Just because a wine is expensive does not mean it is of good quality. It might mean it is a fad at the moment. Also, be aware that a lot of wines are made today with the main purpose of being consumed, and this means that they do not hold a shelf life of over a few years. With a mind full of knowledge and respect for wine, you shouldn’t have any trouble at all investing in the best of the best!