Wines of France: A Guide to 500 Leading Vineyards - Tapa dura

Perhaps as much a love letter about France as it is a treatise on understanding her vineyards, with Lewin betraying an almost touching sentimentality about the country whose wines keep luring him back ... Judging by the number of quotes he uses from his conversations with winemakers, he has evidently spent a lot of time on the front line, rather than researching from the comfort of an armchair ... This, surely, must be the Bible of French Wine. --www.jancisrobinson.com

In all respects this is an admirable introduction to French wine, taking the place of Clive Coates MW's magisterial study of the subject 15 years ago. --Decanter

Wines of France provides a comprehensive account of the vineyards and wines of France today. Offering unparalleled range, France has been the world's most important wine-producing country for more than a hundred years, and is the source of the major grape varieties now grown all over the world. Extensively illustrated with photographs and maps of each area, Wines of France reviews wine production in all regions of France, from the top appellation wines to discoveries in Vins de France. Selected wines are suggested as an introduction to each area. From the classics of Burgundy and Bordeaux, to the sparkling wines of Champagne, and the challenging climates of Alsace and the Loire, from the Rhone to the Languedoc and Provence, all of France's wine regions are included. Each chapter ends with detailed vintage information. France's wines are better than ever, but have never been so challenged by competition. Considering the tension between tradition and modernism, Wines of France asks whether France is still the essential reference point for grape varieties and wine styles, explains how production is changing in established regions, and identifies new emerging regions.Leading vineyards and winemakers are profiled in detail, with suggestions for wines to try and vineyards to visit. With comprehensive coverage of the wine-producing regions, and reviews of 500 wine producers, this is the indispensable guide to the wines of France.