France may still rank #1 in the world in prestige, but its wine
production ranked 2nd to Italy in 2007 with a production of 6.5 million
tonnes. Total French vineyard area also ranked 2nd to Spain in 2006
with 2.2 million acres of vines. While French domestic consumption has
been steadily declining, its wine exports have grown to over 34% of
total world market share. During the decade of the 1990s, per capita
consumption dropped by nearly 20
percent. French wine traces its history to the 6th century BC, with
many of France's
regions dating their wine-making history to Roman times.
The
main wine-producing regions of France are Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy,
Champagne, Corsica, Jura, Languedoc-Roussillon, Loire, Provence, Rhone,
Savoy and Southwest France. Key grape varietals include Chardonnay,
Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit
Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Chenin Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Gris,
Pinot Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan,
Viognier, Roussanne and Marsanne.
