Classic French Wine: The Wine Tasting Class
Bordeaux. Burgundy. And a Little French Attitude.
A life without Bordeaux or Burgundy? Frankly, we’re concerned about your well-being.
France didn’t invent wine, but it helped write the rules for how the modern world understands it. From the legendary chateaux of Bordeaux to the extraordinary vineyards of Burgundy, French winemakers have spent centuries refining the art of turning grapes into greatness. In this guided tasting, we’ll journey through the country’s essential wine regions, exploring the grapes, traditions, and remarkable flavors that have made French wine the international benchmark. Expect celebrated classics, fascinating discoveries, and a few bottles that might make you wonder why you ever drank anything else.
The Legendary Regions
Explore the historic vineyards, essential grapes, and extraordinary traditions that define French wine.
Decode French Wine
Discover why place matters, how French wine labels work, and what makes the classics so distinctive.
Find Your French Favorites
Taste beyond famous names and discover exceptional wines that deserve a place in your cellar.
Six Regions Behind the Legend
French wine is a remarkable patchwork of landscapes, climates, grapes, and traditions. From the cool northern vineyards to the sun-drenched Mediterranean, these six regions provide an essential introduction to the wines that helped shape the modern wine world.
The birthplace of some of the world’s most celebrated Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blends. Discover why the Left Bank and Right Bank have shaped the international understanding of great red wine for generations.
The spiritual home of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Explore a region where tiny differences in vineyard location can create extraordinary differences in flavor, character, and price.
From the mineral elegance of Sauvignon Blanc to the remarkable versatility of Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc, the Loire offers some of France’s most refreshing and intriguing wines.
Discover the savory intensity of northern Rhone Syrah and the generous, sun-soaked blends of the south. A region where ancient traditions produce wines of extraordinary richness and personality.
Nestled against the Vosges Mountains, Alsace produces some of France’s most expressive white wines. Explore the purity and aromatic brilliance of Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Gewurztraminer.
The Mediterranean’s great wine frontier, where old vines, traditional grapes, and a new generation of ambitious winemakers are creating some of France’s most exciting discoveries and exceptional values.
These regional profiles illustrate the breadth of French wine. Specific regions, grapes, producers, and vintages featured in the tasting may vary.
Why France Still Matters
French wine isn’t simply about famous labels and expensive bottles. It’s the foundation of much of the world’s wine vocabulary. The grapes planted in California, the vineyard classifications studied by sommeliers, and the concept of terroir all reflect the enormous influence of French winemaking traditions.
Understanding French wine gives you a new way to appreciate wines from everywhere else. Once you understand why Burgundy Chardonnay differs from Bordeaux Sauvignon Blanc, or why northern Rhone Syrah tastes different from southern Rhone blends, the larger wine world begins to make a lot more sense.
French wines provide a reference point for understanding countless wines made around the globe. Learn the regions, grapes, and styles, and you’ll gain a foundation that makes exploring the rest of the wine world even more rewarding.
With carefully selected wines from the Wine School’s cellar and expert instruction in an intimate classroom, you’ll experience the essential French wine traditions without the intimidation or unnecessary jargon. Whether you’re discovering France for the first time or revisiting old favorites, there is always something extraordinary left to uncork.
Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Loire, the Rhone, Alsace, and Languedoc each have their own story to tell. Together, they offer a remarkable introduction to the depth, diversity, and sheer pleasure of French wine. Come discover the legendary bottles, the overlooked treasures, and the traditions that continue to inspire wine lovers everywhere.