The stereotypical Frenchman may no longer start the day with a shot of red wine to "tuer le ver" (kill the worm) followed by an espresso, but France is one of the top ten alcohol-consuming countries in the world. Wine, predictably, is the favorite tipple and there are dozens of wine-producing regions throughout France. Wines in France are generally named after the location of the vineyard rather than the grape varietal, and there are strict regulations governing where, how and under what conditions grapes are grown. Here are 7 picks adapted from Lonely Planet's "Top 10 spots to pop a cork in France." Text and captions courtesy of Lonely Planet.01 Berne Festival Food Truck: A gourmet event in Provence 06 Coteaux-Varois Rallies in Provence 20 A weekend dedicated to the famous grand cru wines of Bordeaux 21 Gourmet walks around the Languedoc vineyards 27 Vitiloire in Tours : Let’s celebrate the Val de Loire wines 28 Amorioles de Maury: A gourmet walk in Roussillon 01 La Cité du Vin's first birthday 03 The Sancerre Wine Fair in the Loire Valley 03 A picnic in the vineyards of Alsace 04 Envie

Épicurieuse: a hike for foodies 05 SlowUp in Alsace: A day of sport and fine food 19 Chateauneuf-du-Pape and opera 22 Music in Champagne at the Flâneries Music Festival in Reims 24 Anjou Vélo Vintage 01 Art and Wine: A vineyard in the Var region becomes an art gallery 01 Break out the Beaujolais and Beaujolez-vous! 01 Jazz picnics at the Chateau de Berne 01 Open-air dining and rosé: A dance in Roussillon! 02 Celebrate the Festival of Avignon in Côtes-du-Rhône! 05 Format Raisins Festival in Loire Valley 28 Wine-tasting evenings in the Languedoc 30 The Aix-en-Provence Wine Festival 05 The champagne celebration route 13 Celebrate the wines of Duras at a chateau! 18 Festival and water jousting at Sète 03 Grape harvests between the Med and the Pyrenees 09 The Medoc Marathon: A race in fancy dress through the vineyards 05 The grape harvest festival at Banyuls-sur-Mer 20 Celebrate Champagne Day ! 15 Celebrate the famous Beaujolais Nouveau at a five-day festival! 16 Millévin: Avignon’s festival of new and old vintages 18 The Hospices de Beaune charity wine auction: A legendary event!

25 The magic of Alsace’s wine cellars at Christmas 09 The Avenue de Champagne dressed up in lights 27 Enjoy the Saint-Vincent Wine Festival 2018 at Prissé ! 03 Experience the opening of the famous vin jaune or ‘yellow wine’ of the Jura region! 03 When truffles and wine meet literature 03 Gigantesque, the 13th Pommery Experience 21 Good France: a dinner to celebrate French cuisine worldwide 21 Vinestival and the Mâcon Wine Fair: save the dates!There are seven primary wine-producing regions in France. Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Loire, Provence and the Rhone Valley comprise the dominant French wine regions. These regions, are known for particular grape varietals as dictated by the district's indigenous terroir.With over 10,000 winegrowers and over 60 diverse growing appellations, it is no wonder that Bordeaux is the red wine round of France. Over 85% of the wine produced in Bordeaux is red, primarily from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot grapes. The two prevailing red wine-producing subregions of Bordeaux are aptly referred to as "Left Bank" and "Right Bank."

The left bank has soils with higher gravel content that favor Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. top 10 wine routesFrench wines from the left bank usually require more time to mature and will age for years. wine tv shows australiaWhile the right bank lends itself to soil with more clay, preferring the Merlot grapes, with their early-ripening characteristics. best funny wine giftsThe right bank wines are typically better suited for beginning Bordeaux wine drinkers, as they have lower tannin content, more fruit-forward flavor and are more inviting initially. best wine clubs in bay areaBordeaux wines can fit a myriad of budgets with prices per bottle ranging from $6 to $1000+, with $20-30 buying a very nice wine, perfect for dinner parties or gift-giving.best red wine for roast

It should also be noted that the Bordeaux region is also famed for Sauternes, a delightfully sweet white wine that has earned a reputation for being among the world's best for dessert wines.best basic red wineThe French wine-growing region of Burgundy is legendary for its legacy of both red Burgundy (Pinot Noir) and white Burgundy wines (Chardonnay). Burgundy lies on the eastern side of France and covers just over 100 miles. The dominating grape varietals grown in this region are Pinot Noir (making Red Burgundy wines), Chardonnay (making White Burgundy wines) and Gamay (making Beaujolais). Burgundy's moderate climate with warm summers and cold winters allow the high-maintenance Pinot Noir grape to grow particularly well. Red Burgundy wines are often on the pricier side; however, if you are looing for a recommended producer start with Louis Jadot - notable for producing consistent, quality Burgundies vintage after vintage.

White Burgundy is a Chardonnay Lover's delight, with flavors of peaches and honey, crisp acidity and complex flavors that pair particularly well with seafood. Chablis are unique forms of Chardonnay as they are not aged in oak, but instead, winemakers ferment them in stainless steel, making a lighter-bodied white wine. As for Beaujolais - this is certainly a fun, affordable and very approachable red wine. Perfect for those beginning their red wine adventures, with lots of fruit flavor, low tannins, and general palate appeal. You can pick up a Beaujolais for $8 to $20. These are terrific warm weather wines.The Rhone Valley lies in southeastern France, providing distinct growing conditions to produce some of France's best bargain red wines. Grenache, Syrah, and Viognier are the primary grape varietals grown in this region. The laid-back Grenache grapes flourish in the sizzling southern Rhone, producing red wines that are good deals, with good flavor and plenty of food pairing options.

The northern Rhone specializes in Syrah grapes, manifesting themselves into the two most popular red wines the Hermitage and the Cote Rotie.Unlike the rest of France, Alsace names its wines by grape varietal instead of just place names of origin. White wines comprise the vast majority of Alsace wines. Gewurztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Riesling are the most noteworthy of the Alsace varietals. The Alsace Gewurztraminer has remarkable flavors, unlike any New World wines, low acidity, high alcohol content all wrapped in a zesty blend of aromatic spice. The Alsace Pinot Blanc is reasonably priced and is a light-bodied white wine. The Pinot Gris has a fuller body and reveals a rich flavor profile. The traditional Alsace Riesling is a dry, white wine with characteristic mineral nuances.Known for its white wines mainly Sancerre, Vouvray, Pouilly-Fume (pronounced "Poo-wee Fu-may") and Muscadet, the Loire Valley rests on the northwest side of France beginning just inland from the Atlantic and running the length of the Loire River.