French Wines
Thanks to the world-wide success of American and other "new world" wine regions, more and more people are enjoying wine than ever before in history. One small reason for this success is that "new world" wines usually list the grape variety clearly on the bottle. People taste something, look at the label, and are able to say, "My. Merlot sure is tasty."
Feeling confident then, they go to their local wine mart and bravely stride to area devoted to the mother of all wine regions, The French Section. Suddenly, they're unsure. "Uh, where does it say 'Merlot'?" Feeling confused, they shuffle back to the California section, and then skulk off to checkout clutching a bottle with an easily understandable wine label.
And that's what it really comes down to: being able to interpret the French wine label. But, understanding French wine labels is not so difficult once one takes a little time to understand how they're different, and why they're different. It takes a little research, but once undertaken, the scales fall away from the eyes, and confident selections are easily made.
See, French wines are not labeled by variety. They're labeled by region. Hundreds of years of experimentation have resulted in firm and inflexible French laws about what grapes grow best in each region. Therefore, if you're a huge fan of Merlot, then you can begin your personal journey into the world of French Merlot by selecting wines from Pomerol (100 percent Merlot), St. Emilion (100 percent Merlot) or perhaps red Bordeaux (combination of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon).
Learning about French wines can be challenging, but enjoying them is simple. For those who feel the need for a guiding hand, take the time to peruse our online catalog, which lists the finest wines made in the world from 100 percent organic grapes. We carry a charming and well-rounded inventory of the finest wines from France, Italy, and other world wine regions, both old and new. And in time, you'll be fluent in French wine labels yourself!
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