Bordeaux Bordeaux is a large region on the Atlantic coast, which has a long history of exporting its wines overseas. This is primarily a red wine region, famous for the wines Château Lafite-Rothschild, Château Latour,Château Mouton-Rothschild, Château Margaux and Château Haut-Brion from the Médoc sub-region; Château Cheval Blanc,Château Ausone ,Saint-Émilion; and Château Pétrus and Château Le Pin in Pomerol. The red wines produced are usually blended from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and sometimes Cabernet Franc.

Bordeaux also makes dry and sweet white wines, including some of the world's most famous sweet wines from the Sauternes appellation, such as Château d'Yquem.

Sub Region Eg. Of Wine Characteristic Medoc Chateau Mouton Rothschild Red Chateau Margaux Chateau Latour Chateau Lafit Rothschild

Sub Region Eg. Of Wine Characteristic Graves Chateau Haut Brion Red Chateau Ferrande Chateau de Chantegrive

Sub Region Eg. Of Wine Characteristic Sauternes Chateau d’ Yguem White Chateau Rieussec Chateau Climens

Sub Region Eg. Of Wine Characteristic Pomerol Chateau Petrus Red Chateau La Fleur Chateau Clinet

Sub Region Eg. Of Wine Characteristic Saint Emilion Chateau Cheval Blanc Red Chateau Angelus Chateau Ausone Chateau Pavie

The Cote de Nuits (from Marsannay-La-Cote down to Nuits-Saint-Georges) Burgundy Burgundy or Bourgogne in eastern France is a region where red and white wines are equally important. Probably more terroir-conscious than any other region, Burgundy is divided into the largest number of appellations of any French region. The top wines from Burgundy's heartland in Côte d'Or command high prices. The Burgundy region is divided in four main parts: The Cote de Nuits (from Marsannay-La-Cote down to Nuits-Saint-Georges) The Cote de Beaune (from north of Beaune to Santenay)

The Maconnais Two parts of Burgundy that are sometimes considered as separate regions are: Beaujolais in the south, close to the Rhône Valley region, where mostly red wines are made in a fruity style that is usually consumed young. "Beaujolais Nouveau" is the only wine that can be legally consumed in the year of its production (Third week end of November)

Chablis, halfway between Côte d'Or and Paris, where white wines are produced on chalky soil giving a more crisp and steely style than the rest of Burgundy. There are two main grape varieties used in Burgundy - Chardonnay for white wines, and Pinot Noir for red. White wines are also sometimes made from Aligoté, and other grape varieties will also be found occasionally .

Sub Region Eg. Of Wine Characteristic Alcohol Strength Cote de nuit Chateau Latashe Dry Red 11.5 gl Chateau Romanee Chateau Clos de Yougeot Chateau le richebourg Chateau Clos Blanc Yougeot Dry White 10 – 12.5 gl

Sub Region Eg. Of Wine Characteristic Alcohol Strength Cote de Beaune Chateau La Corton Dry Red 10 - 11.5 gl Chateau Poligny Dry White 10 - 12.5 gl Chateau Montiachet

Sub Region Eg. Of Wine Characteristic Alcohol Strength Cote de Maconnaise Chateaux Pouilly a Vent Dry Fruity Wne 11 – 12.5 gl Beaujolais' Chateaux Moulin a vent Dry Red Chateaux Fleorie Chateaux Beaujolais' Chablis Chateaux Chablis Very Dry White

Rhône Rhone Valley, primarily a red-wine region in southeastern France, along the Rhône River. The styles and varietal composition of northern and southern Rhône differ, but both parts compete with Bordeaux as traditional producers of red wines.

Sub Region Eg. Of Wine Characteristic Alcohol Strength Cote Rotie Deep colour rich in flavour Heavy Bodied Red wine Chateaux Hermitage Full bodied Deep strong colour with a delightful bouquet 11 – 12 gl Chateaux neuf du Pape Famous wine deep in colour with good flavour and blend of different grapes 12 gl Chateaux st. Peray Sparkling wine 10 – 12 gl Chateaux Clairette de die

Alsace Alsace is primarily a white-wine region, though some red, rosé, sparkling and sweet wines are also produced. It is situated in eastern France on the river Rhine and borders Germany, a country with which it shares many grape varieties as well as a long tradition of varietal labeling. Grapes grown in Alsace include Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Muscat.

District Eg. Of Wine Characteristic Alcohol Strength Riesling Best dry white wine 11-12 gl Muscat Dry fruity wine 11 gl Sylvamer 12.5 gl Pinot Gris Sharp but Smooth To taste Pinot Noir Light bodied Red wine 12 gl Gewurz Tiaminer It has pronounced bouquet which can be served with any food

Sub Region Eg. Of Wine Characteristic Alcohol Strength Cote de Chalonnaise Ruilly Sparkling Wine Chateaux Montag Dry White 11 gl Chateaux Mercury Dry Red Chateaux Givray

Loire Loire valley is a primarily white-wine region that stretches over a long distance along the Loire River in central and western France, and where grape varieties and wine styles vary along the river. Upper Loire is known for its Sauvignon Blanc, producing wines such as Sancerre AOC, Touraine produces cold climate-styled white wines (dry, sweet or sparkling) from Chenin Blanc and red wines from Cabernet Franc . Anjou-Saumur is similar to the Tourain wines with respect to varieties, often more powerful.

Sub Region Eg. Of Wine Characteristic Alcohol Strength Central Vineyards Sancene Dry Crisp White 10 – 11.5 gl Touraine Sparkling Light Red Wine 10 – 12.5 gl Vouvray chinon Anjou Rose wine 11 – 13 gl Saumor Nantais Muscadet Dry crisp White

Provence Provence, in the southeast and close to the Mediterranean. It is perhaps the warmest wine region of France and produces mainly rosé and red wine. Some Provence wine can be compared with the Southern Rhône wines as they share both grapes and, to some degree, style and climate. Provence also has a classification of its most prestigious estates, much like Bordeaux.

Sub Region Eg. Of Wine Characteristic Alcohol Strength Bandol Red wine with high alcoholic strength Bellet Red and Rose wine Cassis White and Rose wine Palette Mostly use as Table Wine

Champagne Champagne, situated in eastern France, close to Belgium and Luxembourg, is the coldest of France's major wine regions and home to its major sparkling wine. Champagne wines can be both white and rosé. A small amount of still wine is produced in Champagne (as AOC Coteaux Champenois) of which some can be red wine.

Jura Jura, a small region in the mountains close to Switzerland where some unique wine styles, notably Vin Jaune and Vin de Paille, are produced. The region covers six appellations and is related to Burgundy through its extensive use of the burgundian grapes Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, though other varieties are used. It also shares cool climate with Burgundy.

WINE REGIONS OF SPAIN

RIOJA Typically Rioja is a blend of several grape varieties, but Tempranillo dominates, it’s the region’s most widely planted variety, capable of making soft, fruity wines when young, and also more powerful, concentrated wines for long-term ageing. This ageing has always been central to Rioja’s philosophy and nowhere else in the world has such stringent laws governing the time a wine spends in barrel and then bottle before release. Nonetheless, over the past decade a small but growing number of producers have been making wines that don’t conform to these rules. Modern Riojas tend to be richer and more concentrated, with bigger fruit and more obvious new-oak flavours.

NAVARRA Attached to Rioja’s north-eastern border is Navarra. Cooler than its illustrious neighbour, Navarra has long been established as Spain’s best rosé-producing region. But it’s also had plenty of success with red and white wines that blend local grapes such as Viura and Tempranillo with international ones such as Chardonnay and Merlot.

RIBERA DEL DUERO About 150km south west of Rioja lies its big winemaking rival. Ribera del Duero doesn’t produce anything like as much as Rioja, but it certainly makes some of Spain’s most expensive wines. The king here is Tinta del País, a local version of Tempranillo. In this hot, high, dusty land it gives wines of real power and depth, and, when mixed with Cabernet Sauvignon, the wines can last for many years. They’re not cheap, but they can be exceptionally good.

PENEDES Home to Spain’s famous sparkling wine, Cava, but also a good place for reds and whites made from a wide variety of indigenous and international grapes. LA MANCHA This massive, sun-drenched area south of Madrid is the engine room of Spanish wine production and home to some of the most innovative plantings in the country. It’s now making good-quality, good-value wines from Tempranillo (here called Cencibel), Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.

ITALIAN WINE REGIONS

TUSCANY : The hilly soil and the weather conditions of Tuscany are ideal for grape growing and, with the passing centuries, the numerous types of grapes grown gave rise to some rare and much loved varieties. It produces well-known and appreciated reds, the local production includes a few distinguishable whites. Eg. Chianti Sicily : It has more vineyards than any of the other Italian regions competing with Apulia for first place as the largest wine producer. Sicily is renowned for the many outstanding dessert wines, such as the world-famous Marsala.