08/22/07 French Translation

Welcome to Vine to Wine this is your host Linda Moran. This week we are answering questions from the email. A listener writes to ask "We are visiting France soon and we need a quick primer on what is what. We select our wines based upon the grape but you say in France the wine is named for the place." So you need a translation of what wine is from where and named what for when you visit France. I wish you would have mentioned where you are going but - Well here are a few of the basics. If you are in Burgundy mostly the reds are Pinot Noir and the whites are Chardonnay. If you are drinking Bordeaux then you know the reds are blends with mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc etc. The whites are often blends of Semillon and Sauvignon. The Rhone region is rather dependent upon Northern or southern but suffice to say whites are Viognier, Marsanne and Rousanne and the reds blends focused on either Grenache or Syrah. Pouilly-Fume is Sauvignon Blanc whereas Pouilly Fuisse is made from Chardonnay. Vouvray  great for lunch is Chenin Blanc. Those are some of the basics. I recommend you get a little book and copy the page that describes all of this. But most of all just ask for help and enjoy the wines of the region! Remember to send your wine questions to Linda at Vine to Wine dot net and thanks for joining me on today's Vine to Wine.