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.

In the initial process, French winemakers crush the grapes as soon as they get to the cellar. This allows the winemakers to extract the most flavor from every grape, resulting in a French wine rich in taste and sure to please every palate.

The next step is to transfer the crushed grapes, or "must", to specialized tanks for fermenting. The fermentation process is a necessary step in making fine French wine. Without fermentation there will be no alcohol, resulting in simple grape juice and disappointed buyers.

The grapes used in the creation of French wine have naturally-occurring yeasts, sugars and chemicals. A change takes place in the chemical balance of the grapes during the fermentation process. This chemical change is what makes the wines of France so unique.

Optimal fermentation is reached when the must is kept at a steady temperature of 25 to 30 degrees Celsius. Smooth processing during this stage also requires proper ventilation. With these conditions in place, the winemakers can lay the foundation to create the French wines that have earned their places among the finest in the world.

The maceration process is the next step in the making of classic French wine. The wine takes on a rich color and body during this step. The color of wine is developed from the peel and natural tannin of the grape. The amount of "body" is determined by the amount of time the wine spends in maceration. Longer maceration will result in a more full-bodied wine, and many of the better French wines will take several weeks of maceration to reach their full potential.

The final processing stage is known as raking. All solids are removed, and more than one type of wine can be created from the mixture during this final phase. The pulped that has been "raked" from the wine can be squeezed to create pressed wine, or used in its natural form as free run French wine.

Wine lovers will agree that there are wines of exquisite quality that are created the world over. However, whether it's the grapes of France or the methods used to process them, no one can quite match the unique quality of a fine French wine.

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About The Author, Gideon Laston
Writer Gideon Laston is an author for numerous popular web sites, on discount shopping and shopping themes.