France produces a variety of white wines.
Perfect to enjoy on a hot summer day, with a plate of cheeses or alongside a dinner of chicken, fish or pasta, French white wine is a true staple. French whites vary widely in flavor and body, beginning at the sweet, fruity flavors of a Chablis and moving toward the full bodied, dry, floral tones of a Sauvignon Blanc or Pino Grigio. Champagne and it's group of bubbly whites are perfect as an aperitif or celebratory cocktail. Different regions of the country produce a variety of grapes, all with a distinct personality.
Chardonnay
A staple in the realm of French whites, Chardonnay grapes grow in the same regions as the bolder grapes that make French Burgundy, primarily in eastern France. One of the most drinkable wines, Chardonnay offers a neutral flavor that goes with most food and is also good on its own. Online reviewers identify many flavors in Chardonnay, among them oak, butter and tropical fruit. Chardonnay also acts as the base for many sparkling white wines, including champagne.
Chablis
Known for its fragrant nature and dry flavor, Chablis is produced from Chardonnay grapes grown in the northern parts of France. The region has a cooler climate and results in grapes that are more acidic and less fruity than those used for Chardonnay wines. Again, connoisseurs find many flavors in Chablis, chief among them green apple and a "steely finish," according to Saveur.com. Some types of Chablis will taste better if they're aged; many do well when aged for as long as ten to 15 years.
Sauvignon Blanc
Raised in the Bordeaux region of France, the name Sauvignon Blanc is French for "wild white" because the grapes used to make it once grew wild in the region of southwest France where the wine is cultivated. This wine is described as both crisp and dry, and the grape is also used to make a number of dessert wines. Widely available and often affordable, Sauvignon Blanc is described by tasters as both acidic and fruity, and it pairs well with most types of food, including sushi. Sauvignon Blanc doesn't benefit from long periods of aging and is usually consumed while young.
Vouvray
A quintessentially French wine, Vouvray comes in both still and sparkling varieties and is created from grapes that grow in the Loire Valley. The sparkling and still varieties of the wine depend on the climate of the year, and the vineyards will make sparkling Vouvray during cooler years and still during warmer ones. Vouvray can be consumed right away or aged, depending on the desired flavor. Generally a sweeter wine, Vouvray comes in a variety of levels of sweetness: Sec is the driest, Demi-Sec is next, Moelleux is third and Doux is the sweetest variety. Younger Vouvray is more acidic in flavor, and the wine gets sweeter as it ages.
Champagne
Possibly the most famous type of French white wine, Champagne is sparkly, bubbly and often served during special events. French Champagne grapes grow in the northeast region of the country and is usually created from Chardonnay grapes. Champagne gets it bubbles from the way it's produced: the wine is fermented and bottled, and then fermented a second time within the bottle. The bottle is sealed with a special cap and then aged for a minimum of one year, sometimes longer. Once aged, the bottle goes through "remuage," which in simple terms means the bottle is chilled and the cap is removed and then quickly corked once again, trapping carbon dioxide inside. Champagne comes in three main varieties that determines the final sweetness level of the drink: Brut, Extra Brut and Brut Natural or Brut Zero, in order from sweetest to driest, with Brut being the most common variety today.
Pinot Gris
Grown in Alsace, France, Pinot Gris grapes come in a wide variety of colors: bluish purple, pink and gold wines result. A cousin of the Pinot Grigio grape, which hails from Italy, and the Pinot Noir red wines, French Pinot Gris grapes grow in a cooler climate and are harvested late, resulting in bold flavors, including those of citrus, floral notes and vanilla. Depending on the time the grapes are harvested, the wine varies from lighter flavors to bold, heavy tastes.
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