A WINE OF ONE’S OWN
France has nearly two million acres of vineyards, spread across more than 300 appellations, that produce roughly eight billion bottles of wine per year. Long story short, there’s a lot of vin in France for a tipsy traveler to explore. Yet most wine tourists stick to the well-trodden path: Bordeaux, Burgundy, Alsace, Rhône. Not that there’s anything wrong with those worldclass regions. But if you’re the kind of person who’s willing to try rare and unique grapes that you can’t always pronounce, the kind of drinker who’s unafraid of natural wines recommended by tattooed sommeliers, and the kind of traveler who likes to venture away from the masses, then consider the following wine itineraries.
SOUTHWEST FRANCE
For lovers of obscure grapes who want an alternative to show-offy Bordeaux
When I think of interesting but affordable wines, I think of Southwest France, and places like Tarn, Haute-Garonne, and Gascony. These regions are only a few hours’ drive from Bordeaux, but instead regions. They’re actually quite ancient. Winemaking, in fact, flourished here with the Romans, long before it did in Bordeaux.
