The History of Wine from France

France is among the world's largest wine producing countries and is a proud wine nation with strong traditions dating back to the Roman Empire. However, it wasn't until the Middle Ages that the production of French wine truly gained momentum, and in the 14th and 15th centuries, the Bordeaux region became one of the most renowned wine producing areas in France.

In the 17th century, Bordeaux wines became popular in England and later in the rest of Europe. In the 18th century, Burgundy wines became popular among the French nobility, and in the 19th century, there was a growing interest in Rhône wines both in France and the rest of Europe.

Today, France is home to many of the world's largest and most famous wines. This is largely due to the country's unique and diverse climate, which ensures optimal conditions for producing red, white, sparkling, and dessert wines. The composition of the soil, including the abundance of limestone, plays a significant role in creating the ideal conditions and special terroir for wine production in France.

Passion and Dedication Create Great Wine from France

However, it is not just geography and environment that have secured French wine's place among the best wine producing nations in the world. The skills and dedication of French viticulturists (winegrowers) also play an equally important role. The great passion and knowledge of these viticulturists, which have been passed down from generation to generation for hundreds of years, have helped create extraordinary French wines that have inspired the wine industry worldwide.

In France, there are strict rules regarding which grape varieties can be used in which wines and how the wine must be produced. These rules must be adhered to if the wines fall under the appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC), a categorization of wines from a specific delimited area that ensures both the quality and guarantee of origin of the wine.

France's Most Popular Wine Regions

France is known for its many different wines and regions. Some of the most well known regions include:

Burgundy

Take a look at the extraordinary wines from Burgundy. The region is famous for its delicate and complex red wines made from the Pinot Noir grape variety, as well as creamy and mineral white wines primarily made from the Chardonnay grape variety. Here you'll find a wide selection ranging from more affordable Burgundy wines to precious and rare Grand Crus that are otherwise hard to come by.

See wines on auction from Burgundy.

Bordeaux

Bordeaux is known for its red wines, primarily made from the grape varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc - often in combination with eachother.

Here you will find both the great Grand Cru Classé wines, the often underestimated Cru Bourgeois wines, and more (much more). Bordeaux is not only France's largest wine region but actually the world's largest, and the treasures from here are always strongly represented among the selection of fine wine on auction here at ShareWine.

See wines on auction from Bordeaux.

Champagne

Find Special Cuvées, Vintage Champagne, Grower Champagne, Rosé Champagne, and much more. Whatever your preference, we can easily agree that Champagne is the perfect companion for special occasions. Here on the marketplace, you will always find a splendid selection of wine auctions featuring the best this region has to offer.

See wines on auction from Champagne.

Rhône

Indulge yourself and be seduced by the spicy and powerful expressions of Rhône wines. In the cooler Northern Rhône, you will find great Syrah based wines from, among others, Hermitage and the famous "roasted slopes" of Côte Rotie. Further south, where the climate is warmer and drier, you will find fuller, fruitier, and spicier wines, often based on the Grenache grape variety and/or blended with Syrah and Mourvèdre grapes, together forming the well known "GSM" Rhône blend. If your next bottle for your collection is from Rhône, then there are plenty of opportunities to get hold of the best of its kind and even make a good deal by buying it on wine auction.

See wines on auction from Rhône.

Jura

Known for its deep wine traditions and often natural approach to winemaking, which is largely made from the local grape varieties Savagnin, Trousseau, and Poulsard, but also Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Dive into the exciting Jura, which is a true mecca for all natural wine lovers. Here you will find many of the wines that have helped put Jura on the map and hyped several small producers. You may be lucky enough to get your hands on these bottles offered by private collectors on one of the many live wine auctions.

See wines on auction from Jura.

Loire

Stretching far and offering great diversity in grape varieties, expressions, and styles. The region is particularly famous for its fresh and floral white wines made from the Sauvignon Blanc grape variety. In Loire, it is especially the white wines from sub-regions like Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé that have gained great recognition and fame. However, it is worth exploring further, as there are also high quality sparkling Crémant, as well as exciting red wines made from the Cabernet Franc grape.

See wines on auction from Loire.

Alsace

In the sunny borderland to Germany, sheltered by the mountains, lies some of France's most complex terroir, and precisely this subsoil helps create great white wines. Alsace is world-famous for its white wines made from the Riesling grape variety. However, wines can be produced from several different grape varieties, making Alsace a very exciting region to explore. The most well-known are Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Sylvaner, and Pinot Noir. On ShareWine, you can often make great purchases on wines from some of Alsace's 51 grand cru vineyards and famous wineries.

See wines on auction from Alsace.

Sell French wine

If you have French wine in your cellar that you're considering selling, you can list it for sale risk-free on the ShareWine marketplace. Here you can sell it on auction or at a fixed price to buyers from all over Europe.

List French wine for sale - create an auction.