Discover France, one of the world's most influential wine-producing countries, home to iconic regions and styles ranging from Champagne and Burgundy to Bordeaux, the Rhône Valley and beyond.
Beginner-friendly guides designed to help you understand wine with confidence.
Off-dry Chenin Blanc is our best all-round recommendation for pumpkin. For specific dishes, try Chardonnay with roasted pumpkin, off-dry Riesling with pumpkin pancakes, textured Pinot Grigio with gnocchi and Pinot Noir with savoury spiced pumpkin.
Chablis is Chardonnay, so they are not opposing wines. Chablis is a specific regional expression of Chardonnay from northern Burgundy; explore the broader world of Chardonnay for everything from similarly crisp wines to richer, oakier expressions.
Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé are neighbouring Loire appellations famous for dry Sauvignon Blanc. Their flavours overlap considerably, so producer and site often matter as much as appellation. Sancerre also makes Pinot Noir red and rosé.
Chenin Blanc is a versatile white grape known for apple, pear, citrus and honeyed flavours. It is grown especially in France’s Loire Valley and South Africa, producing dry, sparkling and sweet wines.
Chablis is a northern Burgundy region known for dry white wines made from Chardonnay. Its cool climate and varied vineyard sites produce wines that are typically fresh, citrus-fruited and savoury, with four appellation levels ranging from Petit Chablis to Grand Cru.
Pouilly-Fumé is a dry Centre-Loire Sauvignon Blanc known for citrus, fresh acidity, floral notes and stony or smoky impressions. “Fumé” does not mean smoked, and flint does not directly flavour the wine; these descriptions reflect the combined influence of site, vintage, farming and winemaking.
Sancerre is a Loire Valley appellation in central France, famous for dry Sauvignon Blanc with citrus, orchard fruit and fresh herbal or mineral notes. These styles are shaped by a cool climate and a patchwork of vineyard sites. It also produces smaller amounts of Pinot Noir for red and rosé wines.
Champagne is a cool-climate region in north-east France producing some of the world’s most famous bottle-fermented sparkling wines. But Champagne is not a single style—it’s a system built on three grapes, key styles and a patchwork of vineyard areas that each taste different.
Corsica is a Mediterranean island producing fresh whites, elegant reds and fragrant rosés from native grapes, combining mountain freshness with sunny coastal ripeness.
Second Glass
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