Midlife > wrote in :

> I'm sure it's just in my head, but after years of enjoying wine I
> still find myself intimidated by French wine...... particularly
> getting comfortable with identifying what's in the bottle from the
> label (and then remembering for next time). I've laughed it off as a
> way for the French to keep people from enjoying their wine if they
> aren't dedicated enough to figure it out, but it bothers me more and
> more that I just can't seem to get comfortable with this so important
> part of the wine world. (I HAVE noticed more French labels that
> identify the grape varieties.... but not enough for me).
>
> I live in California and have just found it easier to learn about more
> easily identifiable wines than figure out a way to tackle the French.
> I know that going to France would help a lot, but that's not in the
> cards at this time.
>
> So..... can anyone suggest a way to help? How would you teach this to
> a 10 year-old?? That would seem to be a good place to start.
>
>

You will find that in general a French wine that identifies the grape is
not a "serious" French wine. That is not to confuse you but due to the fact
that French wines are AOC controlled as to grape variety. One who buys for
instance a St Emilion will expect a high Merlot, Cabernet Franc proportion
in the blend. One who buys a red Burgundy can expect 100% Pinot Noir, a
white, Chardonnay etc.

a good handy reference for all of these basics is Hugh Johnson's Pocket
Wine Book.