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French Fine Wine
France is the nonpareil of wine countries, its diversity, quality and history unmatched anywhere else on Earth. France serves almost as a microcosm of the wine world, offering a reference point for nearly all the great grape varieties and wine styles of the fine wine scene. Red and white, dry and sweet, light and delicate or bold and structured, France does it all.
France: Classically brilliant winemaking
From Bordeaux to Burgundy, Alsace to the Rhône, the finest French wines remain the benchmark for styles of wine that continue to be known, for the most part, by their region of origin rather than their grape variety.
While the rest of the world produces their own versions of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, they look to Burgundy for the finest examples of each. Winemakers working with Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot elsewhere set great stall by the renowned châteaux of Bordeaux, just as their counterparts do with Syrah from the Rhône or Riesling grown in Alsace. You’ll find all these wines within our selection at Lay & Wheeler.
Whether you’re buying by the bottle for a dinner party this weekend, or by the case to lay down for years to come, our expertly sourced range covers all the bases.
Burgundy
Burgundy is the darling of the fine wine scene, a region that is home to some of the most charming, ethereal, multi-dimensional wines in the world. While it is dominated by just two grape varieties – Chardonnay for whites and Pinot Noir for reds – its multi-layered array of appellations, communes and crus means that it offers endless fascination and opportunity for wine lovers.
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is arguably the most famous wine region not just in France, but the world, its renowned châteaux reading likes a who’s who of fine wine. The red wines – generally a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot – from the region’s Left and Right Banks span such communes as Pauillac and Pomerol, St-Julien and St-Emilion, and encompass a multitude of wines at all levels.
Alsace
Alsace, on France’s eastern border, is known primarily for its lighter, aromatic styles of white wine, notably via such grape varieties as Riesling and Pinot Gris, which thrive in the region’s cooler climate and high, steep-sloped vineyards. Most such wines are refreshing and dry, though a range of off-dry and sweet iterations can also be found.
Beaujolais
Beaujolais’s reputation has moved, in recent years, from cheap and cheerful to chic and chichi. And while its crus are not quite as well-known as those of its neighbour Burgundy, they’re also not nearly as expensive – and can provide fantastic value and increasingly impressive quality for wines that suit today’s thirst for elegant, lighter reds.
Chablis
Perhaps more than any other part of Burgundy, Chablis has carved out its own identity via its own particular style of white wine. The region itself sits slightly apart from the rest of the region, at its most northerly limits, as a result yielding a famously steely, lean rendering of Chardonnay across all levels and price points.
Champagne
Champagne is a by-word for celebration the world over, but it is also the name of the region that produces the world’s most famous sparkling wine. Home to a wealth of grandes marques as well as smaller growers, its chalk soils and labyrinthine cellars give rise to a wonderful array of cuvées in a variety of styles.
Languedoc-Roussillon
Languedoc-Roussillon is the source of some of France’s most characterful, good-value wines. Less constrained by rules and regulations, it is home to a startling number of grape varieties and styles of wine that allow winemakers a certain freedom, and benefit from the region’s consistently reliable climate.
Loire
Like Burgundy, The Loire Valley is equally proficient in producing both red and white wines, but in a broader spectrum of styles. Its Sauvignon Blancs, from Sancerre to Pouilly Fumé, are the global benchmark; its Chenin Blancs – both sweet and dry – set a similar standard; and its Cabernet Franc is at the forefront of the trend for lighter, vibrant reds.
Provence
As you’d imagine from France’s Mediterranean haven, Provence’s wine output spans a range of sun- and sea-kissed reds, whites and rosés, all of them harnessing a lighter, vibrant style that is far more nuanced than the popular image of the ‘swimming-pool’ pink.
Rhône
The Rhône Valley is a vast winemaking region giving rise to a suitably diverse array of styles. This southern French powerhouse is home to everything from the beguiling, ethereal reds of Cornas and Côte Rôtie to the full-bodied richness of Châteauneuf-du-Pape; the characterful whites of Condrieu and Hermitage to the great-value reds of Côtes du Rhône.
Standout French Vintages
In France, wine is all about terroir – that magical blend of soil, climate and place that has seen regions cultivate the grape varieties that best match their conditions for hundreds of years, with the best sites then classified accordingly. Within many of France’s most famous regions, wines are labelled according to these appellations, which hold producers not just to defined geographic boundaries, but certain rules and regulations of production. At Lay & Wheeler, you’ll find the grandest of grand-cru Burgundy and the top rank of classed-growth Bordeaux, both heralding from small, individual vineyards, as well as more everyday fare from lower-ranking classifications, blended across whole regions.
Read previous vintage reports from our Masters of Wine
French wine FAQs
Why is French wine so famous?
France’s huge diversity, volume and history of production, mostly via specific grape varieties that have been planted in specific regions for centuries, means its wines have become benchmark examples across a range that spans most of the world’s most recognised styles. That, combined with a way of classifying sites and producers within individual regions, thereby affording them a certain inherent status, has led to such wines being put on a pedestal on the world stage.
Why don’t French wines list the grape variety on the label?
While some wines lower down the quality hierarchy – often blended from a range of different sites – do include the grape variety, most wines from the upper echelons of the French wine scene are classified according to their particular region – or their Appellation Controlée (AOC). This system sees wines having to adhere to certain requirements of site, grape variety and yield in order to carry the region’s name, thereby being emblematic of that regional style and quality. Such a style could be made up by a single grape variety, as seen with the steely minerality of Chardonnay in Chablis, or a blend of varieties, as in the plush roundness of the 13 varieties of Châteauneuf-du-Pâpe.
What are the most famous French wine regions and appellations?
The big three French wine regions are Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Rhône, and each of these have a multitude of smaller sub-regions, or appellations, within their boundaries. In Bordeaux, that encompasses the likes of Pauillac, Margaux and St-Emilion, among many others, while some of the most celebrated AOCs of Burgundy are Vosne-Romanée, Chambolle-Musigny and Meursault. The Rhône spans such renowned appellations as Cornas and Côte-Rôtie in the north to Châteauneuf-du-Pâpe in the south. Every region, though, has its own celebrated names, from Vouvray in the Loire to Moulin-à-Vent in Beaujolais.
What’s the difference between an appellation and a cru?
An appellation tends to cover wines grown to certain parameters within a set region, while a cru is also a reflection of quality. So AOC Alsace is an appellation covering wines grown in Alsace that encompass certain grape varieties, yields and alcohol levels, but are not from any specific sub-region. AOC Alsace Grand Cru, meanwhile, denotes that a wine comes from a certain ‘cru’ or sub-region that is recognised for the quality of its site. In Burgundy, there are premiers crus (good) as well as grands crus (great), while the crus classés, or ‘classed growths’ of Bordeaux are ranked by number – first growth, second growth, third growth etc.
Shop French wine by type
French wine producers
France’s most storied producers are legendary names within the wine world – and you’ll find pretty much all of them within the Lay & Wheeler range. From Châteaux Lafite and Latour to Domaines Leflaive and Lafon, we have a range of wines from the top names of Bordeaux and Burgundy across a clutch of vintages. But you’ll also find such reputed regional treasures as Mas de Daumas Gassac in the Languedoc, Hugel and Humbrecht in Alsace, and Chave and Chapoutier in the Rhône, as well as a host of less celebrated but equally quality-driven names that each speak of their region’s specific terroir and style.
French producers A-Z
Benoît LahayeBernard MagrezBillecart-SalmonBodega Vivaltus 'La Fleur'Bodegas AaltoBodegas de Txakoli Reazabal en ZarauzBodegas del Palacio de FefiñanesBodegas FaustinoBodegas FrontonioBodegas LustauBodegas Marqués de VargasBodegas MauroBodegas Rafael PalaciosBodegas San Francisco JavierBodegas ValsardoBodegas ViñátigoBollingerBonneau du MartrayBorie FamilyBouvet LadubayBruno Clavelier
C GiroudCA Grands CrusCan SumoiCasa CastilloCatherine et Claude MaréchalCave RoussetCave Saint VernyCaves Yves CuilleronCédric BouchardCellar PardasCésar MárquezChampagne DeutzChampagne Duval-LeroyChampagne JacquessonChampagne KrugChampagne PalmerChampagne PhilipponnatChampagne RuinartChampagne SavartChampagne ThiénotCharles HeidsieckChâteau AmelisseChâteau AngélusChâteau AusoneChâteau Beau-Séjour BécotChâteau Beau-SiteChâteau BeaumontChâteau Beauséjour (Duffau-Lagarrosse)Château Bel-AirChâteau Belair-MonangeChâteau Bellevue-MondotteChâteau BeychevelleChâteau BourgneufChâteau Branaire-DucruChâteau Branas Grand PoujeauxChâteau Brane-CantenacChâteau BrilletteChateau BrousterasChâteau BrownChâteau Calon-SégurChâteau CanonChâteau Canon-La-GaffelièreChâteau CantemerleChâteau Cantenac BrownChâteau CapbernChâteau Caronne-St-GemmeChâteau CharmailChâteau Chasse-SpleenChâteau Cheval-BlancChâteau CissacChâteau Clerc MilonChâteau ClimensChâteau ClinetChâteau Clos Haut-PeyragueyChâteau CoutetChâteau Croizet-BagesChâteau d'AgassacChâteau d'AngludetChâteau D'AqueriaChâteau d'ArcheChâteau d'IssanChâteau d'Or et de GueulesChâteau d'YquemChâteau de BeaucastelChâteau de CamensacChâteau de FerrandChâteau de FieuzalChâteau de FonbelChateau de MeursaultChâteau de MilleryChâteau de MontfauconChâteau de PezChâteau de RouanneChâteau de Saint CosmeChâteau de SalesChâteau Doisy-DaëneChâteau Doisy-VédrinesChâteau du TertreChâteau Ducru-BeaucaillouChâteau Durfort-VivensChâteau Feytit-ClinetChâteau FigeacChâteau FonplégadeChâteau FonreaudChâteau FontenilChâteau Fourcas-DupréChâteau Franc-MayneChâteau FuisséChâteau GazinChâteau Gigault Cuvée VivaChâteau GiscoursChâteau Grand MayneChâteau Grand-Puy-LacosteChâteau Guillot-ClauzelChâteau GuiraudChâteau Haut-Bages-LibéralChâteau Haut-BaillyChâteau Haut-BrionChâteau HortevieChâteau HosannaChâteau KirwanChâteau L'ArroséeChâteau L'Eglise-ClinetChâteau l'EvangileChateau L’IfChâteau La BienfaisanceChâteau La Clotte (St-Emilion)Château La ConseillanteChâteau La Croix de GayChâteau La Fleur de BouardChâteau La Fleur de GayChâteau la Fleur PourretChâteau La Fleur-PétrusChâteau La GaffelièreChâteau La GardeChâteau La GurgueChâteau La LaguneChâteau La MascaronneChâteau La Mission Haut-BrionChâteau La SergueChâteau La SerreChâteau La Tour de ByChâteau La Tour du MonsChâteau LabégorceChâteau Lafaurie-PeyragueyChâteau Lafite-RothschildChâteau LafleurChâteau Lafleur-GazinChâteau Lafon-RochetChâteau Lagrange (St-Julien)Château LanessanChâteau Langoa-BartonChâteau Larcis-DucasseChâteau LarmandeChâteau LaroqueChâteau Larrivet Haut-BrionChâteau LascombesChâteau Latour à PomerolChâteau Latour-MartillacChâteau Le Bon PasteurChâteau Le BoscqChâteau Le CrockChâteau Le GayChâteau Le PinChâteau Le Tertre RôteboeufChâteau Léoville-Las-CasesChâteau Léoville-PoyferréChâteau Les Carmes Haut-BrionChâteau Les Charmes-GodardChâteau Les CruzellesChâteau Les GravièresChâteau Les Vieux OrmesChâteau Lilian LadouysChâteau Lynch-BagesChâteau Lynch-MoussasChâteau MagdelaineChâteau Malartic-LagravièreChâteau MangotChâteau MargauxChâteau Marie de FouChâteau MarjosseChâteau Marquis D'AlesmeChâteau Marquis de TermeChâteau MarsauChâteau MatrasChâteau Mauvesin BartonChâteau MazeyresChâteau MeyneyChâteau MonbrisonChâteau MontaiguillonChâteau MontlandrieChâteau MontroseChâteau Moulin-St-GeorgesChâteau Moulinet-LasserreChâteau Mouton-RothschildChâteau NairacChâteau OlivierChâteau PalmerChâteau Pape ClémentChâteau PavieChâteau Pavie-DecesseChâteau Pavie-MacquinChâteau PédesclauxChâteau Petit-VillageChâteau PétrusChâteau PeymoutonChâteau Phélan SégurChâteau PibranChâteau Pichon-Longueville (Baron)Château Picque-CaillouChâteau Pièrre BiseChâteau PlinceChâteau PotensacChâteau PoujeauxChâteau Prieuré-LichineChâteau ProvidenceChâteau Puy-BlanquetChâteau PuygueraudChâteau Quinault l'EnclosChâteau QuintusChâteau RahoulChâteau Rauzan-GassiesChâteau Rauzan-SéglaChâteau RayasChâteau Raymond-LafonChâteau ReynonChâteau RieussecChâteau RipeauChâteau RobinChâteau Roc des CambesChâteau RougetChâteau SénéjacChâteau Sigalas-RabaudChâteau SiranChâteau Smith-Haut-LafitteChâteau SoutardChâteau St-PierreChâteau Ste-ColombeChâteau SuduirautChâteau TalbotChâteau Tertre de la MouleyreChâteau TeyssierChâteau ThénacChâteau Tour du MoulinChâteau Tour St-BonnetChâteau Tour St-JosephChâteau TronquoyChâteau Tronquoy-LalandeChâteau Troplong-MondotChâteau TrotanoyChâteau TrottevieilleChâteau Turon La CroixChâteau ValandraudChâteau VillarsCillar de SilosClaudie JobardClos CulombuClos de la RoiletteClos De SarpeClos de TriasClos des PapesClos du MarquisClos FourtetClos HédonéClos La MadeleineClos Saint JeanConfuron-CotétidotCôtes CatalanesCoume del MasCVNECVNE
D.O. ToroDarviot-PerrinDavid MoreauDéfinition SecDenis DubourdieuDhondt-GrelletDidier DagueneauDomaine Alain ChavyDomaine André PerretDomaine Anne GrosDomaine ArlaudDomaine Armand RousseauDomaine Arnoux-LachauxDomaine Ballot-MillotDomaine BenetièreDomaine Bernard Moreau et FilsDomaine Berthaut-GerbetDomaine Bertrand et Axelle Machard de GramontDomaine Bois de BoursanDomaine Boris ChampyDomaine Bruno ClairDomaine Bruno ColinDomaine BurgaudDomaine CasteraDomaine Chandon de BriaillesDomaine Charles JoguetDomaine Claude RiffaultDomaine Clusel-RochDomaine Coche-DuryDomaine Comte ArmandDomaine CourbisDomaine de Bellene & Roche de BelleneDomaine de Cailloux (André Brunel)Domaine de CambesDomaine de ChevalierDomaine de CourcelDomaine de CristiaDomaine de FerrandDomaine de FondrécheDomaine de l'ArlotDomaine de l'AurageDomaine de l'HorizonDomaine de la Grange des PèresDomaine de la NoblaieDomaine de la SolitudeDomaine de la Vieille JulienneDomaine de la VougeraieDomaine de MontdoyenDomaine de MontilleDomaine de TrevallonDomaine de TriennesDomaine Denis MortetDomaine des ArdoisièresDomaine des Comtes LafonDomaine des ForgesDomaine des HerbaugesDomaine des LambraysDomaine des Roches NeuvesDomaine du CayronDomaine du Clos des FéesDomaine du CloselDomaine du ColombierDomaine du Gros' NoréDomaine du Matin CalmeDomaine du TunnelDomaine du Vieux TélégrapheDomaine Dubreuil-Fontaine Pere et FilsDomaine DujacDomaine Dupont-TisserandotDomaine DurochéDomaine EscaravaillesDomaine FaiveleyDomaine FelettigDomaine Follin ArbeletDomaine Fontaine-GagnardDomaine François (Nicole) LamarcheDomaine François BuffetDomaine François VillardDomaine GaillardDomaine GardiesDomaine GaronDomaine GaubyDomaine Georges Mugneret-GibourgDomaine Georges NoëllatDomaine Georges VernayDomaine Gérard Julien & FilsDomaine Ghislaine BarthodDomaine Gilbert Picq & ses FilsDomaine GiraudDomaine Graeme & Julie BottDomaine GuiberteauDomaine Henri BonneauDomaine Hubert LamyDomaine Hudelot-NoëllatDomaine HuetDomaine Humbert FrèresDomaine Jean GrivotDomaine Jean-Claude Bachelet et FilsDomaine Jean-Claude MarsanneDomaine Jean-Louis ChaveDomaine Jean-Marc BoillotDomaine Jean-Marc MillotDomaine Jean-Paul & Benoît DroinDomaine La BouïssièreDomaine Le Clos des CazauxDomaine Le Clos du CaillouDomaine LeflaiveDomaine Les AstrellesDomaine Les PallieresDomaine Louis BoillotDomaine Marc Colin et FilsDomaine Marc SorrelDomaine Marcel CouturierDomaine MaumeDomaine Méo-CamuzetDomaine Michel et Stéphane OgierDomaine Michel GrosDomaine Michel LafargeDomaine Michèle et Patrice RionDomaine ParadellaDomaine Paul PillotDomaine Paul Prieur et FilsDomaine Paul ThomasDomaine Perrot-MinotDomaine Pierre UsseglioDomaine PonsotDomaine Raspail-AyDomaine Rebourgeon-MureDomaine Robert DenogentDomaine Rossignol-TrapetDomaine RostaingDomaine Saint PréfertDomaine Samuel BillaudDomaine Sébastien BrunetDomaine Stéphane MagnienDomaine Sylvain CathiardDomaine Sylvain PatailleDomaine TempierDomaine TissotDomaine Vincent CarêmeDomaine Vincent et Jean-Pierre ChartonDomaine Violot-GuillemardDomaine William FèvreDomaines Barons de RothschildDomaines LupierDrouhin-LarozeDumien-Serrette