Major French Wine Growing Regions:

While there are numerous wine growing regions in France and a countless number of Chateau, some of the major areas of wines carried by Santa Rosa Fine Wine include Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Rhone.

Bordeaux - A significant percent of the wine produced in Bordeaux is red, primarily Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot grapes. The two prevailing red wine-producing subregions of Bordeaux are often referred to as the "Left Bank" and "Right Bank." The Left Bank has soils with higher gravel content that tend to favor Cabernet Sauvignon. French wines from the Left Bank usually require more time to mature and will age for years. While the Right Bank lends itself to soil with more clay, preferring the Merlot grapes, with their early-ripening characteristics. The Bordeaux region is also known for Sauternes, a sweet white dessert wine.

Burgundy - The French wine growing region of Burgundy is known for both both red and white wines. Burgundy lies on the eastern side of France and covers just over 100 miles. The predominant grape varietals grown in this region are Pinot Noir (Red Burgundy wines), Chardonnay (White Burgundy wines) and Gamay (making Beaujolais). Burgundy's moderate climate with warm summers and cold winters allow the high-maintenance Pinot Noir grape to grow particularly well. White Burgundy is for those that enjoy the qualities of complex often full bodied Chardonnay, while those that prefer a little style Chardonnay may lean toward Chablis. Chablis are not aged in oak, but instead fermented in stainless steel.

Rhone Valley - The Rhone Valley lies in southeastern France, providing growing conditions best suited toward Grenache, Syrah and Viognier. Grenache grapes are more plentiful in the southern Rhone, while the northern Rhone generally yields more Syrah. Two very well known red wines from the region include the Hermitage and the Cote Rotie.