A guide to help you navigate the great wine regions of France

French wine is what Real Madrid or William Shakespeare or Muhammad Ali or Daniel Day-Lewis or Jacqueline du Pré are to their respective fields. The French make some of the greatest wines in the world. For its wine, food, culture (and glorious intransigence in the face of ‘progress’), thank God for France.

Samuel Johnson’s point about being bored of London means being bored of life applies equally to French wine. You could spend your whole life – and what a happy task it would be – exploring France and its myriad wines and you would never get bored.

France includes several of the world’s great wine regions, any one of which would render it important on wine’s world stage.

Regions like Bordeaux and Burgundy aren’t just grounded in history (as anyone witnessing the Tastevin ceremonies at Chateau de Clos de Vougeot in Burgundy would testify) and technically progressive (head south to Beaujolais to feel the low-interventionist, vinicultural drive) but also originated many of the world’s great ‘international’ varietals like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon among others. This combination of tradition (defined as useful innovations accepted and integrated with time), progressive practice and historic influence retains and holds the interest for novices and enthusiasts alike. Vivre La France.

French wines take the name of the place they are produced, in place of their respective grape variety as we see in the States. It's not Chardonnay, it's white Burgundy. It's not Syrah, it's Rhône red. The place matters as it signifies many things including associated quality, qualities and method (also an underlying focus on the idea of terroirs – see our 

The classification system is a hierarchy premised on specific vineyards (Burgundy) or producers (Bordeaux) and unlike ‘Nam as Walter says, there are rules, in this case attached to varietals and methods allowed. A number of natural producers are rebelling against the classification system to beat their own alternative path in terms of winemaking choices, and are in the process elevating the prior junk bond status of the ‘Vin de France’ designation. Chosen well, these wines represent the ‘auteur’ driven present and future of French and world wine.

NB: Before exploring France's diverse regions, you may want to 

to appreciate each region through its distinct sensory characteristics.

Red: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc

Producers here are called ‘châteaux', regardless of whether the wine was made in a palace, castle or lean-to. Bordeaux boasts several of the most expensive wines in the world, including the 'first growths', which were designated as top of the regional tree way back in 1855. These wines are treated as investments, and are subject to speculative inflation (a sad fact for producers eager for their wine to be drunk and enjoyed by fellow enthusiasts as opposed to an afterthought on a spreadsheet). At the other volume end of the scale, you have farmers seeking to survive on much tighter margins, whilst managing the same basic productive costs as their exalted brethren. This nets out as a region representing the breadth of modern wine with beautifully made, prohibitively priced wines, some expedient low grade stuff plonked on supermarkets shelves up and down the land, and a wary public threading the needle of expense and quality every time they fancy some a tipple (here's some guidance if you want it 

Wines made in the Médoc and Graves on the left bank of the Gironde estuary on which the city of Bordeaux is located are Cabernet Sauvignon driven, have the potential to age and are characteristically dry. Their equivalents on the right bank in Pomerol, St Émilion and ‘Entre-Deux-Mers' are Merlot driven and fruitier.

Other south-west France appellations, including Cahors, Dordogne and Bergerac, create variations on Bordeaux grape varietal theme.

 leads Bordeaux’s evolution under Thomas Duroux’s visionary hand. Their pioneering organic and biodynamic approach proved prescient. Today, the wines reach new heights—powerful yet refined, built for time yet full of life.

CHÂTEAU PICHON LONGUEVILLE COMTESSE DE LALANDE

 (Pichon Lalande) balances Pauillac’s power with perfume and grace. While these second growths age magnificently, they also offer earlier pleasures, sometimes accessible within five years.

 preserves Bordeaux’s artisan past. Jean-François Fillastre works like a Burgundian—one man, not a corporation—crafting supple, digestible wines that defy regional stereotypes.

 sees Michel Théron follow a similarly old-school path—organic farming, whole-cluster fermentations (a rarity here), minimal new oak. His wines reward with accessibility and aromatic complexity from youth.

 rewrites the dictionary of hedonism. From blessed clay in Pomerol’s heart come wines that trade modern prizes (acidity, stern structure) for fruit so opulent and textures so lush they redefine possibility.

 offers Pétrus-like pleasure in a more terrestrial form. Their Pomerol speaks of blackberry and blueberry, delivered through a texture that soothes rather than challenges—beauty’s quieter face.

Burgundy, which originated prominent ‘international’ varieties Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, is a long and gentle east facing slope covered in grapes. It's reasonably compact area, split into smaller areas, then subdivided into parcels, often on ancient lines. This division adds up to a lot of highly specific information which can make Burgundy hard to take in straight off the bat. The time spent in learning is more than paid back in pleasure and interest. 

To understand how vintage variation impacts specific French regions, 

discover the expert's view on the 2023 vintage

Farmer / winemakers here are called 'domaines', the golden slope, or Côte d'Or, carried the most famous Burgundy vineyards but represents a tenth of the wine made in Bordeaux. The lionshare of it is red, made from a beautiful quilt of small vineyards, each replete with history and status, diligently demarcated by the wisdom of the ages handed down mediaeval times. There are 33 Grands Crus at the top of the pyramid, then 640 Premiers Crus, then 44 villages giving their name to wine – some carrying named parcels of specific character or ‘lieux-dits'. There’s also been a growth a sub-regions like Hautes-Côte-de-Beaune or Côte-de-Nuits before giving way to the generic regional appellation of ‘Bourgogne’. Some Bourgognes represent exceptional value as the best producers ensure their entry wine is made with many of the key qualities and choices (vineyard work, sorting, cellaring, etc) that mark out their best cuvées, thereby providing a smart access point to world class wine. 

Cleverly, some villages have attached their villages to their most evocative named vineyards like the beautiful Chambolle-Musigny or Vosne-Romanée. The northern end of the slope takes its name from Nuits-Saints-Georges in being named Côte-de-Nuits, and also includes Gevrey-Chambertin and Morey-Saint-Denis. The southern Côte-de-Beaune references the  seductive town at the heart of the Burgundy and world wine scene.

The Côte-de-Beaune section prompts the white wine lover to salivate involuntarily – Mearsault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne Montrachet – as centuries of tradition, judgment and taste come together in single bottles of light coloured liquid. It also features personal favourites in Volnay and Pommard, which produce floral yet grippy and weighty, ageable reds respectively.

The Côte-de-Nuits and the Côte-de-Beaune make some of the best red and the best white wine in the world.

 is Burgundy’s quiet visionary, a scientist in the vines, a poet in the cellar. He reads the land like an old book, uncovering its secrets before the earth itself confesses. His Bourgogne Rouge rivals premier crus, a testament to his belief that great wine starts in the soil.

 lets his wines do the talking. His Marsannay holdings may not command the same reverence as his Côte d’Or parcels, but the same meticulous touch applies. These are wines of clarity and precision, speaking in quiet but confident tones.

 is where Amélie Berthaut shapes the future while honoring the past. Fixin’s rustic edge meets her deft touch, resulting in wines that hum with tension and grace. The evolution is ongoing, but the trajectory is undeniable.

 is Burgundy royalty, but there’s no pretense here—just wines of effortless balance. Depth and energy, power and finesse, all in harmony. A Rousseau bottle isn’t just a wine, it’s an experience.

 sees Jean-Marie Fourrier crafting Gevrey’s wild side into something precise and haunting. His wines shimmer with purity, elevating terroir above technique. Even his négociant bottlings hum with the same vibrancy.

 channels Beaujolais roots and natural wine instincts into Gevrey’s structured frame. Whole cluster, no sulfur, just pure, pulsing life. From villages to grand crus, these wines demand attention.

 built a legacy in half the time of its peers. Finesse is the through line, the common thread from Clos de la Roche to Vosne. These are wines of lightness and depth, moving with quiet confidence.

 was once Burgundy’s most enigmatic estate, picking late, avoiding new oak, standing apart. Laurent Ponsot’s departure leaves questions, but the wines—dense, structured, built to last—remain undeniable.

 is a story of resurrection. Clos des Lambrays once languished in obscurity; now, under new stewardship, it whispers of elegance and quiet power. Time will tell if it can join Burgundy’s top tier.

 turned forgotten vines into one of Burgundy’s most compelling new voices. Biodynamics, gentle extractions, an obsession with purity—her wines shimmer with grace, proving that sometimes less is more.

 overcame loss and upheaval to emerge stronger than ever. The wines remain laser-focused, pure as mountain air, structured as an architect’s blueprint. Precision and soul, bottled.

 is Burgundian essence distilled. Christophe Roumier’s wines walk the line between power and grace, between structure and perfume. They whisper today, roar tomorrow, and leave a mark forever.

 proves that power isn’t always necessary. Frédy Mugnier’s Chambolle wines are feather-light but unforgettable, their presence felt in absence as much as in taste. Elegance redefined.

 could rule from any vineyard, but here, magic happens. Each bottle is a masterclass in balance—intensity without weight, concentration without heaviness. A symphony in every sip.

 understands that great wine is about precision, not excess. Le Grand Maupertui, her jewel in Clos de Vougeot, channels deep clay into wines of muscle and refinement, built to outlast decades.

 is where two sisters redefine power. Marie-Christine and Marie-Andrée craft Vougeot with a touch both firm and gentle, layering bright fruit over a foundation of quiet strength.

 needs no words, yet deserves all of them. Burgundy’s pinnacle, where rarity meets perfection. A bottle commands reverence. A sip rewrites expectations.

 rose from history’s shadows to Burgundy’s spotlight. Louis-Michel’s touch is unmistakable—pure, lifted, precise. His La Romanée is the crown jewel, but every wine in the lineup demands attention.

 carries Nuits' most revered name, farming here since time immemorial. In 1919, they pioneered estate bottling, setting a benchmark. Their style mirrors the village—uncompromising, structured, austere in youth, magnificent with age. The land speaks through their wines, given time to unfurl.

 walks its own biodynamic path, carrying DRC lineage yet forging something altogether wilder. Clos des Argillières and Clos des Corvées embody their ethos—minimal sulphur, untamed energy. These are not polished wines; they wear their rawness like a badge of honour, fruit-packed and alive.

 stands alongside Gouges as a pillar of Nuits. Rustic yet profound, they guide fruit to bottle with a light touch. Their wines, structured and unyielding in youth, mature into expressions of profound purity and elegance.

 reigns over Corton-Charlemagne from its Pernand-Vergelesses stronghold. Their wines capture the site’s stark, chiselled minerality—reserved in youth, majestic with time. Ten years of patience reveals their true soul.

 crafts Corton-Charlemagne at the pinnacle of power and precision. The site's raw minerality meets opulent ripeness, yielding a bottle that sits at the summit of Burgundy's most sought-after treasures.

 brings intensity to Corton-Charlemagne—concentration, oak, tension. His wines demand time, their first words whispered only after years in bottle.

 sees David Croix, once Camille Giroud's young prodigy, focus solely on his own venture: restoring Beaune's small growers to their former glory. His Corton offerings add further depth to his mission.

 upholds its historic stature under Véronique Drouhin, Burgundy’s quiet icon. Their Clos des Mouches stands apart—taut, poised, red-fruited with a minerally spine.

, son of Volnay legend Gérard Potel, excels as a négociant. His cuvées span the Côte d'Or, yet his Beaune Premier Crus shine particularly bright.

 proves Pommard's worth over time. Their Rugiens from '78 and '71 still astonish, testament to the heights these slopes can reach in patient hands.

 builds its legend on Clos des Epeneaux. Two great visionaries sparked its renaissance—Pascal Marchand in 1985, followed by Benjamin Leroux, who began his journey here at fifteen.

 distils Volnay to its purest form. Their monopole Clos des Ducs ranks among Burgundy's greatest sites. Guillaume d'Angerville reflects on its 1507 measurement—2.15 hectares—identical today. Beyond Clos des Ducs: Champans, Caillerets, Taillepieds, Mitans, Clos des Angles, and Fremiet all sing in harmony.

 embodies Burgundy’s spirit—great farmers, great winemakers, great souls. Their wines, deeper and weightier than d'Angerville’s, hold equal force. Time rewards them: Caillerets, Clos des Chênes, Clos du Château des Ducs, and Mitans.

 remains a Volnay torchbearer. Hubert’s firm, tannic touch gave way to Etienne’s more floral elegance—both deeply true to the village's soul.

 sees Jean-Marc balance acting, writing, and winemaking genius. His wines articulate Meursault in poetry—elemental, precise, profound. His Bourgogne Blanc redefines the category; his lieux-dits collection—Tessons (Clos de Mon Plaisir), Tillets, Meix Chavaux, Vireuils, Luchets—stands unmatched.

 watches Dominique carve his own path. His shift toward acid-driven precision reshaped Meursault. Beyond his considerable Volnay holdings, his Meursaults—Clos de la Barre, Charmes, Genevrières, Perrières—set new benchmarks.

 maintains its cult status through scarcity and unwavering quality. The famed sulphurous matchstick note appears less frequently now, yet their wines remain icons of Meursault’s power, minerality, and grace: Chevalières, Rougeots, Caillerets, Perrières.

 ascends among Meursault’s elite, shaped by Coche-Dury’s influence in the '90s. Like Lafon, he steers away from richness towards a more citric, mineral-driven style. Seek out his Clos des Ambres, La Goutte d'Or, and Les Petits Charrons.

 remains a beacon of greatness, steadfast after Anne-Claude Leflaive’s passing. Her nephew Brice de la Morandière upholds their exacting standards. Old-school Puligny at its finest—intensely mineral, built to last. Grand Crus (Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet) to Premier Crus (Pucelles, Folatières, Combettes, Clavoillon)—they define the appellation.

DOMAINE FRANÇOIS CARILLON & DOMAINE JACQUES CARILLON

 emerged from Louis Carillon’s 2010 division. Once a single entity, their styles remain strikingly similar—ripe yet poised, generous yet precise. Both produce village wine and Premier Cru Les Perrières, each a study in balance.

 commands respect from Montrachet to Premier Crus. Their wines embrace boldness—ripe fruit, generous oak, sheer impact. Keyser in name alone, they exude nothing but light.

 sees Thierry’s obsessive focus on vineyard health yield wines of crackling energy. His Chassagnes—Clos St-Jean, La Montagne, Grandes Ruchottes—bristle with tension and drive.

 (PYCM) and Caroline Morey forge some of the Côte de Beaune's most exciting wines. Intense farming translates to wines of precision and verve. Oak, once prominent, now integrates seamlessly. Even their Bourgogne Blanc rewards patience (two to ten years).

 entrusts the next generation, Alex and Benoît, with continuing their father’s vision. Pristine fruit meets judicious oak, crafting wines that balance minerality with richness. Their Chassagnes impress: Enseignères, Chenevottes, Maltroie, Caillerets.