France is the largest wine producing country in the world, with Italy and Spain making a great run for the top spot. In fact, with only 1-2 million of hectolitres falling behind, Italy is very close to France in wine production. The amount of wine produced in a year depends on many factors and that is why it varies from year to year. Yet, France has managed to hold its spot among the top 3 largest wine producing countries.

The reputation of French wine types has become huge not only in France, but also internationally. The quantity of wine produced per year compromises hundreds of wine varieties. Since they are as versatile as they can get, variety is the main characteristic of French wines:

• White, red and pink;
• Non-bubbly and bubbly;
• Dry, semi-dry and sweet;
• From $10-bottles to several thousand dollars a bottle;
• From hand-crafted wines produced by small family wineries to mass-production wines.

France is known for producing more red wine than white and rose. French rose wines are indeed some of the most special ones you can find on the market, but they take only a small part of the country’s total wine production. One third of French wines is exported all around the world and it is worth about 10 billion euros per year. There is an increased interest in all French wine types from Australia.

Most French wines are dry and non-sparkling. Sparkling wines take only 10% of the total wine production in France. The iconic Champagne takes only about 7% and it is considered the best sparkling wine. There are a lot of other regions that make sparkling wine, but they are all significantly smaller in quantity when compared to Champagne.

In France, almost every region makes a sort of sweet, dessert wine, but there are no particular regions that specialized in this. The quantity significantly varies from year to year, because sweet wine production depends on specific weather conditions that unfortunately do not happen in French regions every year. For the serious wine enthusiasts and collectors, Sauternes is the world’s most favourite type of sweet wine. This amazing French wine comes from the Sauternes region and is produced by mixing Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle grapes.

The finest French wine types enjoy high reputation all across the globe. The best bottles of Burgundy, Champagne, Pinot Noir and Moet occupy the cellars of the world’s biggest wine collectors. Older bottles can reach a price of thousands of dollars each, depending on the vintage and wine variety. Tthere are also French wine types that are inexpensive and are great for everyday consumption.