Castles and green rolling hills are just a few distinct characteristics of French wine regions, and these lend a romantic ambience to some of the world’s best viticulture. Along with Italy, France is one of the world’s top two wine producers. Netting more than seven billion bottles annually, France is the source of many popular grape varieties, including Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.
Wine in France began to flourish when the Greeks founded Marseille in the sixth century BC. Over more than two thousand years, viticulture expanded and became a crucial part of French culture and civilization. The two world wars and subsequent economic downturn left France’s wine industry desolate, leading to the establishment of the appellation d’origine contrôlée, the government-run certification system for wines, cheeses and other agricultural products.
With one of the oldest systems for protected designation of origin (PDO) for wine, France’s strict winemaking laws and production requirements have led to a much-deserved reputation for quality. Today, nearly all popular wine styles—from reds and whites to sparkling and fortified wines—are produced in France.