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French Wine Overview

Around the globe there are certain regions like Napa Valley and Asti that are famous for the wines they produce. But none of these wines command the respect earned by wines created in France.

French wines are made in a special way that other countries just can't seem to match. There seems to be extra care poured into every bottle of French wine, and this thoughtful consideration adds a unique quality to every single French wine on the market today.

During the initial process, French winemakers will crush the grapes as soon as they are delivered to the cellar. The winemakers can extract the most flavor from every grape, and the result is a French wine rich in flavor and certain to please the palate.

Once the grapes have been crushed, the crushed grapes, or "must" is then transported to specialized tanks to ferment. The fermentation process is an essential step in making fine French wine. Without fermentation there will be no alcohol, resulting in simple grape juice.

The grapes used in the making of French wine have their own yeasts, sugars and naturally occurring chemicals. During the fermentation process, a change takes place in the chemical balance of the grapes. It's that chemical change that makes French wines so unique.

In order to reach optimal fermentation, the must is kept at a steady temperature of 25 to 30 degrees Celsius. Proper ventilation is also required for smooth processing. Under these conditions, vintners are able to lay the foundation to create the types of French wines that have earned their place among the worlds finest.

The next step in making classic French wine is called maceration, in which the wine develops a rich body and color. The natural tannin and peel of the grapes will determine the color of the wine. The body, on the other hand, develops over time. If the grapes spend a longer period of time in maceration, the wine will have a more full-bodied flavor. In fact, many fine French wines spend weeks in maceration.

During the final processing stage, the solids are removed from the wine in a process called "raking". It's interesting to note that more than one type of wine can be created during this phase. After raking, the resulting pulp can be used in its natural form as free run French wine, or it can be squeezed to create pressed wine.

Wine lovers agree that wines of exquisite quality have been created by vintners located around the world. However, whether it's the grapes of France or the careful methods used to process the grapes, few can quite match the unique quality of a fine French wine.

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Author Gideon Laston loves writing for a variety of Internet magazines, on home shopping and retail shopping subjects.

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