Do you think that wine can be made from any grape variety, and even from those sold in supermarkets? This opinion is widespread, but far from the truth. In this article I will reveal the secret of the real grape varieties of France, and the secret of differentiating the grape taste of wine.
The only vine that can produce high-quality wines is the European Vitis Vinifera, which you certainly won't find on a supermarket shelf. These are the so-called technical varieties that serve to produce excellent wines. The homeland of the best varieties of the Vitis Vinifera vine is, of course, France and its famous Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay ... It was from there that these varieties spread throughout the world.
Varieties and terroir of France
Each grape variety is unique, and only in a special, only suitable terroir, it is able to most fully express its full potential. In other words, it is the soil and climate, as well as the local winemaking traditions and experience of the winemaker, that have a huge impact on this or that grape variety, giving the wine a special character and uniqueness.
The soil on which the vineyards of France grow
There are hundreds of types of soils of various origins in the world - sedimentary (limestone, chalk, sand, clay), metamorphic (shale, gneiss), as well as magmatic (basalt, granite ...). So, for each grape variety, the soil is suitable that allows it to best express its characteristics. For example, you will no doubt find differences between Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre in the Loire Valley, grown on limestone soils rich in silicon, and Sauvignon Blanc from Bordeaux, grown on gravel soils. Wine is a product of the earth, which is why wines from the same grape varieties are absolutely different from each other.
What climate is needed for grapes
Continental, Atlantic, Mediterranean - the climate is also important, it allows each grape variety to achieve a certain maturity. For example, the Grenache variety requires a lot of sun and only ripens during the long Mediterranean summer. Pinot Noir loves a cool climate, and a fairly short and cool Burdugun summer is enough for it to ripen. Each terroir is a unique example of the adaptation of each grape variety to a specific climate in order to express the full potential of the variety.
Man as a factor in a successful harvest
Naturally, wine is created by human hands, thanks to his experience and skill, but in this case it is equally important to know that the role in the concept of "terroir" is to use various wine-making traditions and methods in order to obtain not just wine, but wine, typical of its terroir.
Well, now you know what real grape varieties of France are in stores, and you also learned what is the difference between the grape taste of wine. In the following articles, I will tell you about the varieties of white and red grapes, you will immerse yourself in the world of the exquisite taste of France. On our website you can also read other fascinating articles about France in the section of the same name.
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