CHAMPAGNE
A taste of finesse in sophistication and elegance.
Founded in Northern France, the Champagne wine region is renowned for its exquisite sparkling wines. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a unique landscape for wine production.
The terroir is composed of chalky and mineral-rich soil from ancient marine deposits that stresses the vines, leading to an enhanced flavour concentration. The region’s cool climate and varied topography create microclimates that contribute to the distinct acidity and finesse character of Champagne wines.
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ALSACE
Chijmes to Franco-Germanic white wines.
In the hills of North-Eastern France sits Alsace, a region known for white wines set apart from others by a strong history of Franco-Germanic influence. Having been back and forth between French and German sovereignty in the last couple of centuries, created a dual culture now vividly reflected in the region's architecture, culture, and wines.
The Germanic influences in Alsace significantly shape its wine naming conventions. Unlike most French regions, Alsace predominantly labels its wines by grape variety, a practice rooted in German tradition—additionally the use of distinctive flute-shaped bottles, akin to those found in Germany.
The Alsace wine region AOC allows vineyards to plant up to 7 grape varieties, most famed for their Reisling.
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LOIRE
Tapestry of soil across the longest wine region in France.
With vineyards surrounding both sides of the river flowing through to the heart of France, the Loire region exhibits one of the country's most diverse array of wines.
It features dazzling geology from its source in the heights of Massif Central to the conclusion in the Bay of Biscay. From crumbly flint to chalky stone, impermeable granite to decomposed volcanic rock makes sense for this region's high concentration of 24 grape varieties across 51 appellations.
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CHABLIS
Quintessentially fresh and flinty minerality.
Nestled in the rolling hills of Northern France, above Bourgogne, sits Chablis. These wines are uniquely sophisticated due to their exceptional terroir, characterised by Kimmeridgian soil rich in marine fossils, which imparts a distinct minerality and flintiness. The region’s cool climate cultivates high acidity and slow grape ripening, enhancing the purity and focus.
Fermenting and aging the wine in stainless steel plays a crucial role in defining Chablis’ unique flavour profile. This preserves the wine’s natural freshness and fruit character, allowing the distinctive minerality from Kimmeridgian soils to shine through.
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BOURGOGNE
“The true heart of Burgundy is not in its soil, but in the soul of its wine.”
–by Jasper Morris MW
Some of the most admired and sought-after wines globally are from the Bourgogne (aka. Burgundy) region. Located in Eastern France, many consider this region to have the best soil and climate for cultivating wines.
In Bourgogne, there is immense focus on individual vineyards and the producer. Dating back to the 6th century, the viticulture practice has been refined covering a range of wines, styles, and vineyards.
The traditional Burgundian process focuses on nurturing old vines and a strict harvesting process, resulting in low yields producing wines of great concentration and story-telling.
Domaines - Cote de Beaune:
Domaines - Cote de Nuits:
RHONE
The deeper the roots, the richer the fruits.
Established by the ancient Greeks and Romans, located in the southeast of France, the Rhone region boasts vineyards sitting on steep hillsides surrounding the river that runs through the valley. The vineyards receive direct sunlight from being on the hills, and the roots are forced to stretch deeper into the soil creating a grape with high complexity in its concentration.
Distinct qualities and notes are found between the north and south of Rhone, with drastic climate differences and production amounts. Stretching from Lyon to Marseilles, the Rhone Valley presents much of France’s renowned gastronomy and, not surprisingly, has the wines to pair with it.
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COTE DE PROVENCE
Every empty bottle of Rosé is filled with great stories.
The world capital of Rosé, much like how Champagne is the precursor for sparkling wine. Stretching along the Mediterranean coast in the south of France where it’s sunny 300 days a year. Climates dry and hot, providing the optimal environment for enjoying and producing Rosé wine.
A patchwork of terroir, weaving clay and limestone soils that are perfectly made for light Rosé wines which are well-balanced between, acidity, fruitiness, and floral notes.
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BORDEAUX
The most iconic wines with the most distinguished personalities.
Nestled in the southwest of France, the historical Bordeaux wine region is known for a palette of red and white wines alike.
With the establishment and age of this wine region, wine styles have become rooted in specific microclimates of the vineyards. Furthermore, distinguishments can be made by the division of the Gironde estuary which is the confluence of two rivers: Dordogne and Garonne. This terrain has created left-bank and right-bank (of the Dordogne River), and entre deux mers wines (between the two rivers).
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SOUTHWEST - CAHORS
An unspoken gem in the darkest rubies.
Deep coloured reds, sometimes even called black wines, predominantly Malbec. Cahors can be described as an emblematic city in the south of France, that flourishes under the influence of 3 climates–continental, maritime (Atlantic ocean), and Mediterranean.
Portrayed by two dominant terroir characteristics, the limestone plateau of the Cahors region (known as the Causses, a UNESCO World Heritage site), produces more tannic, longer-lived wines. On the other hand, vineyards grown on gravel found in slopes and terraces between the plateau and river produce more approachable and fruitier wines.
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LANGUEDOC
Renaissance of a wine garden.
Languedoc is the largest wine-producing region in France, stretching along the Mediterranean coast from Catalonia to Provence. Wines are primarily red made with Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault. Their flavor profile is dominated by red fruit and garrigue–a typical herb in the region composed of lavender, juniper, thyme, sage, and rosemary.
In recent years, it has been known to go through something of a renaissance–where the focus of winemakers has shifted to producing extremely high-quality wine and becoming the largest producer of organic wines in France. Their dynamic and innovative techniques, make their wines sought after as “new discoveries”.
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