Wine-making in France predates the Romans, but they developed vineyards throughout the country. No country has contributed more to the development of wines through the ages. Although in the last 20 years or so France has had a great deal of competition from wines made in Australia and California, it is once again producing quality products throughout the whole of France. The king of them all is Champagne, said to have been invented by Dom Perignon in the 17th century, although there are records of sparkling wines in the Champagne area even before this.

White wines include Bordeaux, Chablis, Entre Deux Mers, Gewürztraminer, Graves, Loupiac, Muscat, Pessac Léongnan, Pinot-Blanc, Sancerre and Sauterne. Red wines include Beaujolais, Beaune, Bordeaux, Bourgogne, Brouilly, Côte de Blaye, Côte de Bourg, Côte de Castillon, Fronsac, Haut Medoc, Margaux, Medoc, Moulis, Pomerol, St Emilion, St Estephe and St Julien. And then there is Champagne…

There are 10 recognised wine regions in France, of which the main ones are Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Loire and Rhône.

Some of the best known names in champagne are Alfred Gratien, Billecart-Salmon, Bollinger, Charles Heidsieck, De Venoge, Henriot, G.H.Mumm, Gosset, Jacquesson, Ruinart, Salon, Taittinger, Veuve Clicquot-Ponsardin, Krug, Lanson, Laurent-Perrier, Moët et Chandon, Pol Roger and Pommery. Wine producers in France are legion and a list of producers would be virtually endless.