Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TELLING WINES APART
So, let's start with the whites on our list, above. The
differences between these wines are not great, but you may
i nd you prefer one over another. Pouilly-Fuissé, named for
a small village in Burgundy, will be the most expensive,
because it has become popular as a recognisable French
Chardonnay. Chablis, named for a small region south-east
of Paris that is also considered part of the Burgundy region,
also specialises in whites made from Chardonnay grape, but
they are usually very dry and delicate, unlike a big buttery
American Chardonnay.
AOC and Age
Traditionally, the better wines of France are named for the
place where the grapes were grown, and those names carry real
meaning. It was Napoleon who i rst codii ed wine making in his
favourite wine region, the Bordeaux.
Today, in the many regions where vinifera grapes are grown,
French growers are limited in the varieties they can plant, the
distance apart from each vine and the way the grapes are pruned
and cultivated. Likewise, wine-making practices are strictly
dei ned and controlled, including the year the wine was made.
All of this is guaranteed in the term Appellation d'Origine
Contrôlée (AOC) on the bottle. This centralised micro-management
creates fabulous results. The tiny vineyards of Bordeaux which
produce AOC Premier Grand Cru wines can sell their better
vintages for a fortune, especially as they age (and they really
should). However, the value of the bottle can sometimes
accelerate for years beyond the best point of development of the
wine inside. Wine auctions won't guarantee the quality of their
ancient, expensive vintages, and neither would I. Find an AOC red
at least three years old or more and pay as little as you can for it.
One option to these is the white wines from the Loire River
valley. Sancerre will be a bit fruity and may be a little spritzy,
made from Sauvignon Blanc. The Muscadet will be bone dry,
made in this case from the grape of the same name, but
 
Search WWH ::




Custom Search