French Alcoholic Beverages

Popularly known as the gold standard of sparkling wine, true Champagne only comes from the actual Champagne region in France. It is produced using the so-called méthode Champenoise; the process in which secondary fermentat... READ MORE

This classic French brandy is distilled from grapes in order to produce eau-de-vie, which is then aged and blended to make cognac. The drink originated when it was revealed that eau-de-vie brandy of the Charente region develops d... READ MORE

Bordeaux region is the largest wine growing area in France that comprises of more than fifty different appellations. Bordeaux wines can range from massively produced everyday table wines to prestigious and expensive vintages. The predomin... READ MORE

Mimosa is a classic breakfast cocktail that transforms a simple morning meal into a decadent event. The cocktail is made with freshly squeezed orange juice and Champagne or any dry sparkling wine. Grand Marnier or bitters can also be adde... READ MORE

Burgundy is a world-famous French wine region that produces some of the best and most expensive wines in the world. Located in the east-central part of France, the area is dominated by Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Other red and white grapes... READ MORE

Merlot is one of the most widely planted and popular red wine grape varieties in the world. Originating from the Bordeaux region of France, Merlot is known for producing soft, elegant, and fruit-forward wines. It is often used both as a single var... READ MORE

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized and celebrated red wine grape varieties. Originating from the Bordeaux region of France, it has spread to virtually every major wine-producing country, becoming a key component of man... READ MORE

Chardonnay is a popular and widely cultivated white grape variety that is used to produce white wine. Originating from the Burgundy region of France, Chardonnay is now grown in wine regions around the world, including the United States, Australia,... READ MORE

Sauvignon Blanc is a widely cultivated white grape variety known for producing crisp, aromatic, and refreshing wines. Originating from the Bordeaux region of France, Sauvignon Blanc is now grown in many wine regions worldwide, including New Zealan... READ MORE

Considered to be one of the first grape brandy varieties produced in France, Armagnac originated in Gascony, a historic area now divided between the regions of Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie. The first written records on Armagnac date b... READ MORE

Chartreuse is one of the oldest and most popular French liqueurs. It is believed that the drink originates from an ancient manuscript that was sent to the Grande Chartreuse monastery at the beginning of the 18th century. In 1764, the Cart... READ MORE

Pinot Noir is a highly esteemed red wine grape variety known for producing some of the world's finest and most elegant wines. Originating from the Burgundy region of France, Pinot Noir is revered for its complex flavors, silky texture, and ability... READ MORE

Although Syrah is an internationally known grape that is planted worldwide, it attains distinctive character in northern Rhône—which is often dubbed as Mecca for Syrah. There are several theories about the origin of the grape,... READ MORE

Pinot Gris, also known as Pinot Grigio in Italy, is a white wine grape variety that is believed to be a mutation of the Pinot Noir grape. It is known for producing wines that can vary widely in style depending on the region and winemaking techniqu... READ MORE

Beaujolais is a light-bodied red wine, with relatively high amounts of acidity. It is made in the historical wine producing region Province of Beaujolais, mostly from thin-skinned Gamay grape, which makes it very low in tannins, and there... READ MORE

A cocktail made with blackcurrant liqueur (typically crème de cassis) and white wine is known as Kir, a traditional French beverage that is usually consumed as an apéritif. The cocktail got its name after Felix Kir,... READ MORE

Cabernet Franc is a black grape variety that is one of the major red grape varieties worldwide. It is often overshadowed by its more famous offspring, Cabernet Sauvignon, but it has its own distinct characteristics and merits. Cabernet Franc is kn... READ MORE

This classic triple sec was created by the Cointreau brothers, who managed to distill sweet and bitter orange peels to create a slightly sweet, fresh liqueur with incredibly concentrated flavor. The brand was first registered as triple sec in 1885... READ MORE

Created in 1880 by Louis Alexandre Marnier Lapostolle, Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge (lit. red ribbon) is a sophisticated blend of cognacs infused with the distilled essence of bitter oranges. In addition to Lapostolle's secret touc... READ MORE

Malbec is a red wine grape variety that is most famously associated with Argentina, although it originally hails from the Bordeaux region of France. It is known for producing deeply colored, full-bodied red wines with strong fruit flavors and smoo... READ MORE

This best-selling anise-based spirit was invented by Paul Ricard. He experimented with the distillation of fennel, anise and Provençal plants until he perfected the recipe in 1932, and started to market it as the real pastis of Marseill... READ MORE

Triple sec is a French term for clear, orange-flavored liqueurs. They are traditionally distilled from a macerate of dried orange peels and a neutral spirit. The origin of triple sec is undoubtedly French, though it is disputed who was th... READ MORE

Gewurztraminer is a pink-skinned grape that produces some of the most aromatic and complex white wines in the world. The exact origin of Gewurztraminer is hard to trace, but the grape is related to Traminer family that is cultivated acros... READ MORE

Chablis is the name of the wine region in northern Burgundy, but it is also the name of a white wine coming from this very region. Chablis is made with 100% Chardonnay, but unlike other Chardonnay wines, it rarely utilizes oak-aging, resu... READ MORE

This French national drink is made with the potently sweet star anise—which gives pastis its unmistakable flavor—as well as herbs and spices such as sage, melissa, verbena, licorice, cinnamon, cardamom, and pepper. Its name st... READ MORE

Pinot Gris, also known as Pinot Grigio and Grauburgunder, is a white grape variety whose origins are believed to be in Burgundy, but the grape has shown amazing potential in Alsace—the region with which it is mostly associated nowad... READ MORE

Calvados is a brandy distilled from apple cider or a combination of apples and pears. The fermented juice is usually double distilled to create the base of the ... READ MORE

Picon is a bittersweet orange-flavored French liqueur, officially classified as a bitter, which is commonly paired with beer. It was created in 1932 by Gaétan Picon, who was an apprentice at a distillery before he was stationed in ... READ MORE

White vermouth is one of the vermouth categories that is somewhere between dry and sweet vermouth. Most examples of the style are medium sweet and pale, and producers tend to use warm spices such as vanilla to make the sweetness more pron... READ MORE

Hailing from Pondesac, Lillet is a fortified wine that is produced with a combination of fruits, peels, and barks that are macerated in neutral alcohol and then combined with wine. The final blend is usually aged for several months in oak... READ MORE

The origin of dry vermouth is mostly associated with France. This light vermouth usually has herbaceous notes and a distinctive dry finish. The examples of the style are typically clear, but some will have subtle golden hues. They can be ... READ MORE

A decadent cocktail made with absinthe and champagne is known as Death in the Afternoon. Thanks to its inventor - Ernest Hemingway, it is often referred to as the Hemingway Champagne, or simply The Hemingway. The cocktai... READ MORE

Sancerre is a French appellation located in Loire Valley (Cher department) that is mainly known for the production of dry white wines from Sauvignon Blanc grapes. The wines are praised for mineral notes and freshness, while three differen... READ MORE

Chenin Blanc is a grape variety grown in the Loire valley of France, from where it spread to South Africa and became popular as Steen. Due to its versatility, it comes in a few varieties, such as bubbly, dry, or sweet. The dry version of ... READ MORE

Often considered as one of the most exceptional wines in the world, red Hermitage wines are produced in the northern Rhône with Syrah as the principal grape variety. Especially praised for their longevity, these powerful, full-bodie... READ MORE

Saint-Émilion is one of the most exceptional appellations in Boudreaux. It is located on the right bank in the Libourne wine region of Bordeaux. Although classic Bordeaux varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménèr... READ MORE

This late-harvest dessert wine of Bordeaux is predominantly made with Sémillon, the region's rare golden-skinned white grapes affected by noble rot, though the blends often include Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. The appellations may includ... READ MORE

Viognier is a grape variety with unclear origins that found its home in the northern Rhône, where it has been cultivated for centuries. It is best known as the single varietal used in the Condrieu appellation, though it is also used... READ MORE

Chambolle-Musigny is a French appellation located in Burgundy, more precisely in Côte de Nuits (Côte d'Or) wine region. The whole appellation includes twenty-five Premier Cru designations, as well as Musigny and Bonnes Mares a... READ MORE

Pomerol is a small wine region in Bordeaux that produces distinguished and highly sought-after red wines. There are several allowed grape varieties, but Merlot is the undisputed star of the region. It is often complemented by Cabernet Fra... READ MORE

Chambertin is a French appellation and a Grand Cru vineyard located in Burgundy, more precisely in the Côte de Nuits (Côte d'Or) wine region. The designation produces red wines that are mostly varietal and based on Pinot Noir.... READ MORE

Meursault is a French appellation located around the namesake village in Côte de Beaune (Côte-d’Or) region of Burgundy. The appellation consists of nineteen premier cru vineyards that produce some of the best expressions... READ MORE