France - the oldest and probably the most famous region in Europe where wine is made.Wine production in France was born about the sixth century BC, during the colonization of Southern Gaul by Greek settlers.Soon the wine began to flourish in the Greek colonies in Marseilles.In the south the right to produce the wine gave the Roman Empire.
St. Martin of Tours (316-397) took an active part not only in the spread of Christianity, but also in planting vineyards.In the Middle Ages, the monks kept the vineyards and, more importantly, the knowledge and practical skills in winemaking, in those troubled times.The monastery had the resources, an adequate level of protection and motivation to produce a constant volume of wine for their own use and for sale.At this time, it is best vineyards owned by the monasteries, and that their wine was considered the best.However, the French Revolution led to the confiscation of the many vineyards in the church.
except for some parts for export from Bordeaux, to 1850, the majority of French wine was used within their region.People in Paris drank wine from local vineyards in Bordeaux drank Bordeaux, Burgundy drank Burgundy, and so on.Expansion of railways and improvement of the road system alone reduced the cost of transportation and, consequently, increase exports.
Today, France produces the most wine in the world in terms of its value.With her rivals Italy (by volume), and Spain (scale land under vines).The most important are Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne.
In 1935, was released a few of the laws that determine the quality of French wine.On the basis of their installed control systems and types of origin (Appellation d'Origine Controlee), which is managed by the National Institute of names and origin (Institut National des Appellations d'Origine - INAO).Generally, in France, one of the oldest systems of appeal and the most strict laws concerning winemaking and production.Many other European systems have been built on them.The European Union, by the way, it uses the French system.
French law divides wine into four categories, two of which fall under the category of wines of the European Union, and two others - under the category of quality wines of a given region (QWPSR).About 450 wines to date relate to the appellate system.
France is traditionally the largest consumer of its own wines, but in the last forty years, the level of consumption of the drink is down.In the nineties, the average level of consumption, with respect to each citizen has fallen by 20 percent.For this reason, the French wine makers have to increasingly rely on foreign markets.On the other hand, the level of wine consumption also fell in these potential customers, such as Italy, Spain and Portugal.
Articles Source: francevine.ru
