French wine is produced in several regions throughout France, in quantities between 50 and 60 million hectolitres per year, or 7–8 billion bottles. France has the world’s second-largest total vineyard area, behind Spain, and is in the position of being the world’s largest wine producer losing it once (in 2008) to Italy. French wine traces its history to the 6th century BC, with many of France’s regions dating their wine-making history to Roman times. The wines produced today range from expensive high-end wines sold internationally, to more modest wines usually only seen within France. Two concepts central to higher end French wines are the notion of “terroir”, which links the style of the wines to the specific locations where the grapes are grown and the wine is made, and the Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) system. Appellation rules closely define which grape varieties and winemaking practices are approved for classification in each of France’s several hundred geographically defined appellations, which can cover entire regions, individual villages or even specific vineyards. France is the source of many grape varieties (such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Syrah) that are now planted throughout the world, as well as wine-making practices and styles of wine that have been adopted in other producing countries.
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France
Alsace - Jean Remy Haefflin
The Jean-Remy Haeffelin domaine dates back to 1895 and was founded by Chretien Oberlin. The current vineyards were established in 1901 by Gustave Burger who was one of the fi rst pioneering wine growers and founder of the Wine Growers Association of Alsace in 1911.
The Haeffelin family is unique in Alsace as it is the only family tree that has had a winegrower or winemaker in every generation since 1560.
Champagne - Champagne Pannier
Champagne Pannier was founded by Louis Eugene Pannier in 1899, he came across large ancient medieval cellars dug deep in the heart of Chateau Thierry - the perfect location for producing unique champagnes.
In these cellars an ancient image of an Archer carved into stone was discovered - Champagne Pannier has taken it's
inspiration from the Archer where like the Archer, balance is the precursor
for refi nement.
Burgandy - Lupe Cholet
In 1903 Alexandre de Mayol de Lupe and Felix de Cholet decided to join their vineyards in Nuits-Saint-Georges to create the house that still bears their names, Lupe-Cholet. The vineyards now cover areas in both the Chablis and Cote d'Or appellations.
Chief winemaker, Cyrille Jacquelin oversees that grapes are hand picked when the balance between sugar and acidity are at their best and afterwards only the best are selected on the sorting tables, these in turn lead to the very highest standards of quality and consistency.
Chablis - Domaine Laroche
The Laroche family has been producing Chablis since 1850. Michel Laroche, who represents the 5th generation of this winemaking family, joined the company in 1967. Convinced of the Appellation's potential for high quality wines, Laroche embarked on a period of expansion taking the holding from 6 hectares in 1967 to over 100 hectares today.
Vins De Pay - Les Jamelles
Les Jamelles wines are a unique collection of handcrafted varietal wines that have been produced in the Pay d'Oc, in the south of France since 1991 by Catherine & Laurent Delanuay. Both their families have been producing wines in Burgundy for four generations.
Catherine is one of a few rare women to work as a winemaker, she is extremely passionate about the art of wine making - she oversees and is responsible for the quality of each of the wines in the Les Jamelles collection.
Rhone - Olivier Ravoire
Born into a family with a long winemaking tradition, Roger Ravoire used his twenty years of wine experience to open his own Maison du Vin in the 1980s.
This family operation is located in the heart of the Luberon region at the crossroads of the Rhone Valley and Provence.
Through Roger's efforts, his vineyard has become a recognised name in the region and in particular for skillful selection and blending.
In 2003, his son Olivier joined the team and together they continue to share their passion for wine making.
Vins De Pay - Les Roucas
The origin of Les Roucas comes from the ancient lands of Languedoc with its arid and stony soils.
The word 'Les Roucas' is borrowed from the old OC language which is still spoken in the region, it means pebbles such as those that are seen in the region's many vineyards.
This range of wines is produced by Les Vignobles Foncalieu who are a progressive Co-Operative whose members are loyal wine growers who share a passion and love of all things wine!
Vins De Pays - Badet & Clement
Badet Clement & Co. controls sourcing, winemaking (with 4 winemakers and a winery in the Minervois area), bottling (more than 10 millions bottles a year with international quality standards such as ISO 9001/2000, IFS, BRC, HACCP, Ecocert, NOP), quality control with its own laboratory, graphic design (with its own graphic studio), marketing and distribution in more than 40 countries.
St. Emilion - Corbin Michette
Chateau Corbin Michotte is situated in the gravelly area of St. Emilion adjacent to the famous Pomerol Appellation.
The vineyard's wine makers, Jean Noel Boidron and his son Emanuel received their passion for wines from Jean Noel's parents and grand parents who have been wine growers in the region since 1855.
The Chateau lies over seven hectares of soil of composed of gravel and sand with grape varieties such as Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon being grown.
Vins De Pays - Laroche Mas La Chevaliere
Michel Laroche had been closely following the evolution of the South of France, since the 1980s.
In 1995, be bought Mas la Chevaliere, just outside Beziers and planted 45 hectares of prime vineyards. The diversity of soil,
climate and grape varieties in this region allow him to produce a wide selection of wines, ranging from refreshing aperitif wines to rich, well-structured reds that can be aged for
10 years more.
Haut Medoc - Chateau Cissac
In 1895, Jacques Mondon, a lawyer in Pauillac, acquired several vineyards in the parish of Cissac-Medoc, he combined these vineyards under the name Chateau Cissac. Jacques was no stranger to fine wine production, his father and grand father were the wine makers for Chateau Lafite and Chateau Latour.
In 1940, after being de-mobilised from the French Airforce, Louis Vialard, having inherited the the property from his Mondon
grand-parents, went about restoring the
vineyards, out buildings and the family home.
Within a few years Chateau Cissac was once again re-establishing itself as a Cru Bourgeois of great notoriety.
Loire Bougrier
The Bougrier winery is located in the heart of the Loire valley, this famous wine growing region has often been called the 'essence' of France: the Loire river offers a collection of classic castles and magnificent vineyards along more than 500 kms. As regards the wine, the main characteristic is diversity, pleasure of constant discovery and fun without forgetting lightness and freshness
The Bougrier family have been in the Loire for over five generations, Bougrier Family members have managed the winery, respecting at any time
the people and the terroir.
Bordeaux - Chateau Timberlay
Chateau Timberlay is owned by the Giraud family whos original founder, Robert Giraud bought the estate in the 1940's. He was the last of a long line of winegrowers from Saint-Andre-de Cubzac on his mother's side, a line which can be traced back to the mid 18th century in the family archives. Chateau Timberlay (appellation Bordeaux Superieur) is located in Saint-Andre-de-Cubzac.
It symbolizes the Giraud family's wine-making roots, and is proof of the shipping company's commitment to producing much of the wine they sell.
Chablis - Domaine Les Valery
Domaine Les Valery is owned by Jean Durup family, they are currently the largest domaine in Burgundy covering over 170 hectares of land in the Chablis region and they are also the largest producers of Chablis in France.
Located in the very heart of the Chablis region, the Durup family vineyards contain a high concentration of steep, well exposed hillsides of rock soil - this terrain guarantees exceptionally high quality wines.
