Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Côtes du Rhône
The Rhône region is divided into northern
and southern areas, the different soil, climate
and grapes of which produce dramatically dif-
ferent wines.
Set on steep hills by the river, the northern
vineyards produce red wines exclusively from
the ruby-red syrah (shiraz) grape; the aro-
matic viognier grape is the most popular for
white wines. The south is better known for
quantity rather than quality. The grenache
grape, which ages well when blended, is
used in the reds, while the whites use the
ugni blanc grape.
Places for
Wine-Tasting
2 ROUTE DES GRANDS CRUS,
BURGUNDY (
CLICK HERE
)
Champagne
Champagne has been the centre for bubbly
production since the 17th century, when the
monk Dom Pierre Pérignon perfected a tech-
nique for making sparkling wine.
Champagne is made from the red pinot
noir, black pinot meunier or white chardonnay
grape. To maintain exclusivity (and price), the
designated areas where Champagne grapes
can be grown and the amount of wine pro-
duced each year is limited. In 2008 the bor-
ders of the Champagne AOC label were ex-
tended to include an additional 40 villages,
increasing the value of their vineyards and its
produce by tens of millions of euros.
Champagne is labelled
brut
(extra dry with just 1.5% sugar content),
extra-sec
(dry, but not as dry as
brut
),
sec
(dry),
demi-sec
(slightly sweet) or
doux
(sweet).
Famous Champagne houses include Dom Pérignon, Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clic-
quot, Mercier, Mumm, Krug, Laurent-Perrier, Piper-Heidsieck, Taittinger, De Castel-
lane and Pommery.
4 ROUTE DES VINS D'ALSACE (
5 COGNAC HOUSES NEAR
BORDEAUX (
CLICK HERE
)
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