Want to visit the vast French wine country? Take the "Burgundy Line" train to Lyon, then switching to the "Rhone Valley" line at Vienne to Chateauneuf-du-Pape or go from Libourne to Medoc on the "Bordeaux Line." Intrigued by the various groupings and towns within each wine region in France -- say, those of Bordeaux and Burgundy -- Dr. David Gissen, an architectural historian and imaginative wine buff, decided to collect each one together as if they were train stops on the Paris Metro or NYC's subway lines. For example, jump on the Bordeaux line at Sauternes and ride north to Bordeaux city, then transfer to the Right Bank line to St. Emilion. Or, take the Left Bank route through Margaux, Moulis, Listrac-Medoc, St. Julien, and Paulliac, to St. Estephe and then, finally, to Medoc at the end of the line next to the Atlantic. But don't throw away your GPS just yet. While the Metro Wine Map of France is probably unparalleled as far as being a tool to help learn the relative locations of wine regions without all the clutter -- not to mention it makes a nice wall graphic -- it's of no practical navigation value.

Gissen's map is available online through the Britain-based De Long Company, which has just released it along with a conventional (and very handy, up-to-date) map of Long Island's wineries.best wine of turkey - Roger Morris, The Daily Mealbest buy wines and spirits More from The Daily Meal:box of wine co op How to Find America's "Hidden" Bars 7 Drinks That Fans Miss the MostFrance SFrance WineFrance TripMetro StyleMetro WineWine RegionsFrances O'connorMetro MapSubway MapForwardThe major wine regions of France and their appellations shown clearly in their relative positions Major grape varieties shown in context with their corresponding appellations Major geographical features and architectural landmarks indicated The United States is an increasingly important wine country on a world scale – and the fourth most prolific.

California is by far the predominant wine-producing state, followed by New York, Washington, and Oregon. The Northwest—Oregon and Washington Argentina’s extreme and diverse, high-altitude landscapes provide a range of climates suited to varieties ranging from Malbec to Pinot Noir. Argentina-Salta, Mendoza and Rio Negro Best known for Shiraz, Australia capitalizes on its steady climates and technologically savvy wineries to make a variety of wine ranging from jammy reds to bone dry Riesling. Situated around large bodies of water to temper harsh winters, Canadian wineries are crafting high quality wines from international and cold-hardy hybrid grapes. British Columbia - Okanagan Valley Known for its dry summers, Chile always produces healthy fruit. Though it was first planted by Spanish conquistadores in the 16th century, today Chile is mostly planted to French varietals. France enjoys a reputation as the most revered and prolific wine producing country in the world, with diverse terroirs ranging from warm Mediterranean climates to cool hillsides in Burgundy.

The Crus of Beaujolais Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Tavel, Lirac & Gigondas Vin de Pays d’Oc Louis Jadot Overview Map Most commonly associated with Riesling grown on the Mosel’s steep slate hills, Germany makes a variety of long-lived, acidity-driven wines. Hungary’s continental climate of very cold winters and hot summers lends itself to the production of their famous dessert wine, Tokaji. Italy has the highest percentage of land planted to vine in the world. Among Italy’s 20 wine-producing regions, Tuscany and Piedmont are the most famous. Friuli-Venezia Giulia and the Veneto La Morra & Barolo Communes La Morra & Barolo Communes (featuring Michele Chiarlo) Firenze - Chianti Classico New Zealand’s cool, maritime climate is perfect for wine production. Best known for its iconic Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand’s diverse vineyards also grow Pinot Noir, Bordeaux and Rhône varieties. Portugal’s terraced Douro vineyards are responsible for the production of Porto, possibly the world’s longest-lived wine.

The Isle of Madeira South Africa’s dramatic vineyards, generally flanked by mountains on one side and water on the other, are rapidly gaining interest world-wide. Spain has the most acreage planted to vine in the world. Best known for the wines of Rioja – an idyllic region shielded from weather extremes – Spain has dozens of unique wine appellations.Our favourite Loire valley holidays How to use our interactive wine map Drinking up the diversity What is an appellation? What is a sub-appellation? What makes Loire Valley unique How to read a wine label A glossary of useful terms Embed this interactive map on your website Estimated Reading Time: 12 Minutes If there are two words that have you reaching for a corkscrew and glass, they're surely Loire and Valley. This key wine region stretches from the hills of the Auvergne, deep in the heart of France, to the Atlantic coast near Nantes. 

It generates huge quantities of wine each year, from the everyday and quaffable to some of the very finest in the world. A trip to the Loire Valley is something of a treasure hunt, with gems such as Touraine, Sancerre, Anjou and Pouilly-Fumé hailing from the fertile lands along the river. The Loire based holidays in the Belle France programme offer cycling and walking holidays but so many of customers ask about local wines and vineyards. On this specially designed, interactive map you'll find details of a range of vineyards, some close to our Loire routes and others not. Explore the different regions, appellations and grape varieties of this beautiful part of France to learn more about its elegant wines. The map is divided into four main regions: Pays Nantais, Anjou-Saumur, Touraine and Upper Loire. Simply click on a region to discover in-depth information on its appellations and sub-appellations, as well as the grape varieties associated with them. The circled numbers relate to the number of vineyards that are included in various Belle France tours. 

If you’re interested in taking a bottle of wine home to remind you of your travels at a later date, click on the grape to learn how and where in the Loire Valley it is grown. The wines of the Loire Valley range from light, sharp Muscadet to honeyed Bonnezeaux. Vouvray’s white wines sparkle while Chinon and Saumur are known for their meaty, tannic reds. The town of Angers in Anjou is known mainly for its rosés, based on the Cabernet Franc grape, including Rosé d’Anjou and Cabernet d’Anjou. The Loire proudly produces white wines with key grapes Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Melon de Bourgogne and Chardonnay. The quality of its reds is ever-increasing, with Cabernet Franc being the primary  grape variety. Lighter-bodied wines are also made from Pinot Noir and Gamay. Pay Nantais is best known and loved for its crisp Muscadets, while Anjou specialises in Chenin Blanc both sweet (Coteaux du Layon) and dry (Savennieres). Touraine’s Chinon Blanc makes for dry whites, complemented by its Cabernet-Franc based reds.

The Upper Loire is the spiritual home of Sauvignon Blanc, while a meander further up the river finds Gamay and Pinot Noir reigning supreme. Near the Atlantic, you’ll find blends of Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay, while in the Touraine the highly versatile Chardonnay grape will mix happily with Sauvignon Blanc. Wherever your tastebuds are tempted to take you, our interactive map of the Loire Valley will ensure they’re not disappointed. What exactly is an appellation? In simple terms, an appellation is the geographical identification of where the grapes for a certain wine were grown. We all know Champagne can only be called Champagne if it’s grown in the region Champagne (about 100 miles east of Paris). The same rule applies before other wines can legally print an appellation name on the label of their bottle . Other restrictions also apply, such as the types of grape that may be grown, their maximum yield, pruning and harvesting techniques, and alcoholic content.

In this way quality is protected, as are vineyard practices and the marketing of wine. The early part of the 20th century saw France producing a selection of wines that were poor by today's standards. Consequently in 1935, the Institut National des Appellations d’Origine was created to manage wine production and to this day, the INAO remains a passionate supporter of the ‘terroir’, in other words the peculiar soil, climate and vegetation that determine the character of wine. In 1937, lawyer and winegrower Baron Pierre Le Roy Boiseaumarié from Châteauneuf-du-Pape campaigned and won to secure legal recognition of Côtes du Rhône’s appellation of origin. The AOC seal (standing for Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée), which appears on the wine’s label, was created by French law in the 1950s. Understanding the nature of appellations is especially vital in the vast and varied Loire Valley, where big producers sit alongside smaller establishments such as Cour-Cheverny (which only uses the obscure Romorantin grape) and Coteaux de Giennois.

Unlike New World wines, the variety of grape is rarely displayed on French wine labels, so it pays to know that a particular appellation requires a certain type of grape. If in doubt, check our interactive wine map of the Loire Valley for details. A sub-appellation is simply a further breakdown of the region of a wine’s origin. For example, the Loire Valley’s popular Muscadet appellation has three sub-appellations: Muscadet-Sevre et Maine, Muscadet-Coteaux de la Loire and Muscadet-Côtes de Grandlieu. The benefit of a sub-appellation is that it is able to pinpoint the wine’s origin with great precision. Loosely translated, Vin de Pays means ‘country wine’. It’s another way of tying down production to a specific area and doesn’t necessarily indicate the wine is of inferior quality to one with AOC on its label. It may mean the winemaker has chosen not to abide by the appellation’s strict rules, but grapes still have to come from the region on the label. If grapes are sourced from various areas of the Loire Valley, it may only qualify for the more general Vin de Pays du Val de Loire classification.

If the grapes come from a more localised area, the label may state, for example, Vin de Pays de Vendée or Vin de Pays du Cher. The wine has to be submitted for analysis and pass a taste test, and there are also rules regarding sulphur and alcohol content. What makes the Loire Valley unique? The Loire Valley was primarily a country retreat for French royalty and aristocracy who, among other things, invested in the construction of grand châteaux. There are over 300 dotted around the region, earning a large stretch along the Loire river UNESCO World Heritage status in 2000. It is around this fascinating part of the region where Belle France’s hand-crafted walking and cycling tours are based. The Loire Valley provides some of the best cycling opportunities in Europe, with many designated paths along the banks of the majestic river. Thanks to the largely flat terrain cycle rides are a leisurely affair, with plenty of opportunities to take in the sights. Eight villages in the Loire Valley carry the ‘Plus Beaux Villages de France’ award, including Montresor, where, according to a charming legend, a lizard helped a humble servant find gold so he could build a castle and marry the princess of his dreams.

Nature lovers, city sightseers, cyclists, canoeists and walkers will all find inspiration in the Loire Valley, not only in its architecture and wines, but also in its excellent cuisine. However the day is spent, a host of delicacies can be found on local menus, from simple, traditional fare to culinary masterpieces worthy of the old French nobles themselves. Game from Sologne, the lamb of Touraine, sausages of Jargeau, and pâté from Chartres, served perhaps with Orleans mustard or a pinch of saffron, present a feast both for the eyes and the palate. The dish must inevitably be complemented by the appropraite wine: a vivacious Vouvray, perhaps, or an earthy Bourgueil, although a  cider from the Perche may take your fancy on occasion. The region’s pastry chefs round up a hearty meal with the perfect dessert. Tarte tatin, almondy Pithiviers cake or sablés biscuits…visitors won't struggle to find a sweet note on which to end. As an indication of the strict quality control that makes France's wines so superb, there are precise labelling laws that producers must adhere to.