France
French wine is produced all throughout France, in quantities between 50 and 60 million hectolitres per year, or 7–8 billion bottles. In many respects, French wines have more of a regional than a national identity, as evidenced by different grape varieties, production methods and different classification systems in the various regions. Quality levels and prices vary enormously, and some wines are made for immediate consumption while other are meant for long-time cellaring.
Brands
Distinction and elegance. Established in 1849, Pol Roger is the “Gentlemen’s Champagne, as Jean Paul Kauffman wrote in ‘Voyage en Champagne”. It is not surprising therefore the British Royal family should have made it their favourite over the years. The winery and cellars are located on the celebrated and noble Avenue de Champagne in Epernay, in the very place where the heart of Champagne beats. The purity and nobility of Champagne Pol Roger is also the fruit of know-how passed down from generation to generation. From the harvest in the region’s best vineyards to the painstaking work in the cellar, each gesture has its importance.
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“Domaine & Maison Les Alexandrins” came into being with the collaboration of three figures of the Northern Rhone Valley: Nicolas Jaboulet, 6th generation of a winegrowing family in Tain l’Hermitage since 1834, Guillaume Sorrel, son of Marc Sorrel of Domaine Sorrel in Hermitage, and Alexandre Caso, specialist in the terroirs of the Northern Rhone.
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On the foothills of the Pyrenees, surrounded by its vineyards, Domaine Gayda is a new destination in the Languedoc. A fully organic vineyard with certification for the Figure Libre range is completed in 2012. All the grapes are handpicked in small 20kg crates.
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True to Beaujolais tradition, Dominique Piron wines are made via semi-carbonic maceration, during which whole grapes undergo a long fermentation before being pressed. This technique creates vibrant, fruit-forward wines that are exceptionally low tannins. Unlike many wines, they can be enjoyed immediately, but will also keep well for several years.
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Following a tradition of ten generations of winegrowers, from father to son, the Bourgeois brothers and cousins offer the
profound sense of the family values and passion in making fine Sancerre and Pouilly Fume. Run by Jean Marie Bougeois, his sons – Arnaud, Lionel and his nephew Jean – Christophe, the estate of Henri Bourgeois composes of 72ha – of 120 unique parcels, the Bourgeois family’s key principles in viticulture follows closely of organic sustanable pratices and a strong belief in quality, consistency and expression of the terroirs.
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A shared love of authenticity and a passion for terroir brought Patrick Bruel and Nicolas Jaboulet together to raise the bar of excellence even further in this Domaine LEOS Rosé, Cuvée Augusta. Taking the great Hermitage white wines as inspiration, Nicolas has crafted a stunningly pure, elegant rosé, of incredible freshness and remarkable breadth.
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