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Our resident wine expert, Arabella Woodrow, answers some of your questions about French wines.
With over 25 years experience in the wine trade, Arabella Woodrow qualified as a Master of Wine, the highest wine qualification, in 1986.

She has worked in all aspects of the trade, travelling to all the major wine producing countries of the world and tasting many thousands of different wines over the years.
1. What are the different types of French wine?

French wines can seem a bit confusing because they are traditionally named after regions and not after grapes. So, for example, you would buy white Burgundy rather than Chardonnay or St Emilion rather that Merlot – even though these would be the primary grapes used to produce the wines. If you’re new to French wines, I would suggest reading the back of the label where you’ll usually find a mention of the grapes used.
2. Which French wines can you recommend to enjoy on their own?

For white wine, I can recommend a Chablis like Morrisons The Best and varietal Vin de Pays like Les Jamelles Sauvignon Blanc and Sandpiper Reserve Chardonnay. If you like red, try Granges Côtes du Rhone, Beaujolais Villages and Vin de Pays varietals like JP Chenet Premier Cabernet Sauvignon.
3. What food do different types of French wines best complement and why?

Dry French white wines such as muscadet from Loire Valley go well with shellfish, light sauces or simply grilled fish. Creamy sauces are better with fuller styles of wine such as white Burgundy, white Rhône, and southern French wines. For red wine, try something like Crozes Hermitage Red or Peyrat Reserve Merlot – they will go well with meat dishes, roasts, casseroles and French cheeses (but not blue ones), and any robustly flavoured foods.
4. You’ve been invited to a friend’s place for dinner and you don’t know what’s on the menu. Which French wine will complement any meal?

Well, you can never go wrong with a bottle of Champagne, like Lanson Rosé Brut Champagne. It’s always good to start with and will get the evening going with a swing, although it isn’t always the best choice to drink with food. For red wine, Côtes du Rhone is always a safe bet, and Chablis, Sancerre or a Chardonnay Vin de Pays for white.
5. Does age matter with French wines?

Classic French reds, especially Bordeaux and Burgundy, do benefit from ageing as this helps the tannin to subside and the complex, secondary flavours to develop properly – giving a more interesting wine.

For the whites, only the top white Burgundies and Sauternes would benefit from keeping; most French whites are best when young to enjoy their freshness.
6. Is it true that all French red wines have lots of tannins in them?

Traditionally, French reds were made to be tannic, without much accent on fruit. Tannins are the chemicals in wine that make your mouth feel dry, a bit like when you're drinking tea. Modern winemakers now try to make the wines more accessible, in a softer, easy drinking, fruity style. It really depends how the wine is made more than the variety of grape it is made from.
7. What’s the difference between Champagne and sparkling wine?

Champagne can only come from the designated vineyards near Reims and Epernay in the north east of France. Sparkling wine made elsewhere in France is not entitled to be called Champagne.