More so than any other country, France has established the benchmarks of measuring greatness in wines. Wine regions the world over have planted varietals native to France. The French concept of terroir (site determines quality) is respected by winemakers worldwide. French wine regions are widely varied and spread across the nation. The primary regions are names recognized wherever premium wines are consumed: Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Languedoc, Loire, Provence and Rhône. These regions include three very distinct climatic zones: the north, with severe winters and rainy falls; the south, with a warm Mediterranean climate and the western maritime zone bordering the Atlantic. History traces the initial winemaking in France back to 600 B.C. and the efforts of itinerant Greeks. Roman legions were instrumental in spreading viticulture across what was then known as Gaul. During the Middle Ages, monastic religious orders continued vinous propagation and expansion. Today there are 2.2 million acres of vineyards that produce more wine than any other nation except Italy and that is consumed virtually wherever civilization has been established.

French native varietals that now populate vineyards around the globe include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Gamay, Grenache, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Semillon and Viognier. France has established the planet’s most complex and strict system of laws governing wine production.

Mitchell Wines offers a thorough inventory of French bottlings from the principal regions.

ALSACE
Ehrhart 
This small estate of 21 hectares is located in the small village of Wettolsheim, about 5 km from Colmar. Looking out the back door of Philippe and Corinne Ehrhart’s winery you enjoy a view of Alsace’s noble vineyards of Steingrubler, Rosenberg, Brand and Hengst. The Ehrhart family has been making wine in this region since 1725. Two generations ago Philippe’s grandfather Eugène began employing organic farming methods, which he believed would help him produce better wines. Philippe and Corinne continue to farm their vineyards with the same strong commitment, and today all of the wines of the domaine are certified organic by the French government. Herrenweg, a combination of gravel mixed with sand, has excellent drainage and a warm micro-climate allowing maximum ripeness while always maintaining finesse and the balance of soil and fruit. The Gewurztraminer Herrenweg is rich with floral aromas, spice notes, and ripe exotic fruit flavors.

BEAUJOLAIS
Domaine Marion Pral
A 50 acre Family organic estate for several generations, located in the heart of the “Pierres Dorees” country, 10 miles from Villefranche, capital of the Beaujolais The Domaine Pral vineyard is planted on granite soils with a South East exposition in the Beaujolais region. Harvest – grape picking Once fully matured the grapes are hand-picked; selected and sorted with great care. Aging The wines are stored with great care. They are aged over 8 to 12 months before bottling at the Estate (Domaine). Sustainable Farming Estate Winemakers: Marion and Pascal Chatelus.  More information can be found at the supplier's web site.

BORDEAUX
Château Roc Meynard
The Château spreads over 40 hectares including 29 hectares of vineyards and 11 of woods and fields. It is located in the village of Villegouge in the Fronsac region, only a few miles from the Grand Cru Saint Emilion and Pomerol. The vines from the Chateau Roc Meynard are right on the border of the Fronsac AOC, separated by just a small dirt alley. The soils are mainly composed of chalk and clay and the vineyards are planted primarily of Merlot.

BURGUNDY
Domaine Bertrand Ambroise
The domaine was established in the late 18th century in the village of Prémeaux-Prissey, just north of Nuits-Saint-Georges. Today the estate is 42 acres, worked diligently by Bertrand and his family. Bertrand produces some of the finest examples of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Burgundy. He often works with 10%-30% lower yields than allowed. His passion to produce wines from absolutely ripe grapes demands a severe green harvest and an additional inspection or sorting of the fruit prior to fermentation. This detailed work has created a worldwide demand for his wines. The style of Bertrand’s wines can be characterized as ripe, deeply extracted and full bodied.

Christophe Cordier
Christophe Cordier is one of the hottest winemakers in Burgundy. The domaine is located in Fuissé and is renowned for making first class wines from fruit grown in only the best terroirs or sites. Christophe believes the work begins with low yields, hand harvesting only physiologically ripe fruit and intervening as little as possible. Harvest usually starts at the end of September and lasts through the middle of October. All of the wines made here are fermented in wood which allows for the sublime flavor integration. The wines found here all express intense and focused aromatics while concentrated, impeccably balanced rich, long flavors take over in the mouth. The wines from Pouilly Fuissé are often thought to rival and surpass many of the top level wines found in the Côte de Beaune and at a fraction of the price.

Domaine Denis Pommier
Established in 1990 with the inheritance of 2.5 hectares of established vines in Chablis and Chablis 1er Cru from his grandfather. Today the estate is 11 hectares large and includes Petit Chablis. Denis takes great care in the vineyards and farms using only natural products. He uses both stainless steel and barrel fermentation depending on the vineyard site. The style of Pommier is very fresh with high toned aromatics and a rich, complete, plush mouth feel. Throughout the range the purity and elegance of Chablis is never lost.

F. Chauvenet
When François Chauvenet founded his wine house in 1853, he named it F. Chauvenet as an hommage to his mother Francoise, whose sensibility still imprints the style of our wines. Whether for an intimate "tete a tete" dinner or for more formal "dejeune d'affaires," these wines will bring to your table the elegance, sophistication and romance typical of the finest French wines. Our winemaker has used his "savoir-faire" and the experience we have developed since 1853 to create this wine for your complete enjoyment.

J Moreau & Fils
Specialists in the wines of Chablis since 1814, J. Moreau & Fils has built its reputation on a love of wine and respect for the terroir. Located just outside the village of Chablis, J. Moreau & Fils’ house style is to capture the purity and minerality of Chablis in each of its stunning wines. The wines can be characterized by Chablis’ signature lively minerality and a perfect balance between terroir, fruit, structure and texture, making them accessible in their youth while simultaneously possessing a great aging potential.

Domaine Marc Morey
Domaine Marc Morey is located in the heart of the Côte d’Or, in the center of the village of Chassagne-Montrachet. Although the Morey family name can be traced back for more than five generations in Chassagne, it was in the 1950’s that Marc Morey established this domaine. He constructed the original cellar beneath the family’s 100 year-old home and began vinifying his own wines. His daughter Marie-Jo and her husband Bernard Mollard are the current proprietors. They now own almost 25 acres of Villages, Premier and Grand Cru vineyards and have twice expanded the domaine and modernized the vinification equipment. Bernard and Marie-Jo’s daughter is studying oenology and has joined her parents to work the estate.

CHAMPAGNE
Pascal Doquet
Pascal and his wife Laure own and operate this fabulous small grower Champagne domaine in the town of Vertus, located near Avize. The Doquet’s Champagnes are made entirely from their 15 hectares (2.5 Grand Cru / 12.5 Premier Cru) which are all farmed organically and hand harvested. The vines are planted at 7500 vines per hectare and the ages range from 7-71 years of age, with an average of 28 years old. In the Cellar the wines ferment in both tank and cask before being bottled to under go secondary fermentation where they are allowed to rest on their lees for a minimum of 2 years but often up to 3 before disgorgement; much longer than the law requires. This technique and patience allows for the wines to develop richness and depth.

COSTIÈRES DE NÎMES
Grange des Rouquette
Located in the tiny commune of Fournès, on the right bank of the Rhône River, is the estate of Thierry & Véronique Boudinaud, Domaine Grange des Rouquette. The Boudinaud family have been winegrowers and winemakers in the western Rhône Valley for five generations. Thierry traveled extensively in his quest for knowledge about winemaking, working in California, New Zealand and Bordeaux. They now own about 25 hectares of vineyards within the Côte du Rhône appellation, and farm an additional 25 hectares.

Domaine de Gournier
This beautiful estate, owned by Maurice Barnouin, is located in the hills northwest of Nîmes, in the western Rhône Valley near the town of Uzes and the famous Pont du Gard. The viticultural area lies just outside the Costières de Nîmes appellation and is only entitled to label its wines as Vin de Pays des Cévennes. The wines of Domaine de Gournier however, aspire to greater stature than this simple designation. Being up in the hills, the microclimate is cool.

Chateau Petite Cassagne
Domaine de la Petite Cassagne is located four kilometers from the village of St Gilles on south/south-eastern exposed slopes of the Costières de Nîmes. The soils here are characterized by cailloux deposited by the Rhône River centuries ago. Diane de Puymorin is the dynamic young owner of this super property, which she purchased in 1998. Diane’s goal is to craft unique wines within the Costières de Nîmes appellation. She uses only organic farming methods and believes in strictly limiting yields. Unique pruning and leaf pulling techniques help her to optimize the maturity of fruit in her vineyards, and allow her to harvest before the autumnal weather changes. Diane has also been expanding by planting new vines each year, and she now has 5 acres of white varietals in production.

Chateau Grand Cassagne
Located 25 miles west of Avignon in the small village of St. Gilles, is the area called “Les Cassagnes”. The Dardé brothers, Laurent and Benoît, farm 80 acres of rocky benchland here, and produce by hand, terrific wines on their estate Grande Cassagne. I first began making cuveés, or blends, with them in 1988, and finally began shipping their wines in the 1994 vintage.
Planted in their vineyards is very old Grenache of nearly 60 years, as well as 40 year old plantings of Syrah. Serious leaf-pulling and crop-thinning is practiced each vintage by the Dardé brothers to ensure maximum ripeness and deep, saturated wines. To say the least, we are proud of the results.

Mas de Bressades
Mas des Bressades is considered by many as the top estate in Costières de Nîmes, located 35 miles southwest of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, on the western side of the Rhône. It is run by Cyril Marès and his lovely wife Natalie Blanc, who owns the adjacent estate, Mas Carlot.

Mas Carlot
Constructed around the seventeenth century, this old Provençal Mas was brought back to life by the Blanc family, who purchased the estate in the Sixties. Located on the western edge of the Rhône River, in the village of Bellegarde, southeast of the city of Nîmes, the vineyards are in the heart of the appellation’s cailloux-based soil. In the old Provençal dialect, “Mas” means farm, and Nathalie Blanc-Marès is beautifully managing this 75 hectares farm with the aid of her husband Cyril Marès, owner of the neighboring property Mas des Bressades (yes, she married the boy-next-door). They are a great Provençal family - young and energetic with great vision and talent.

The vineyards were planted in the 1950’s and 1960’s to the current varietals. The vines are trained using a system called Cordon de Royat, which helps maintain lower fruit production. Mas Carlot limits yields to around 45hl/ha, which is one-third below what the appellation allows. Nathalie likes to wait during harvest - picking late to obtain the maximum maturity for each grape varietal.

Mas Guiot
This small château is located near the town of Saint-Gilles, 15 miles from the Mediterranean Sea and just west of the Rhône River. It is owned and operated by the Cornut family. Sylvia is the oenologist, with François and their two sons tending to the vineyards.  Located in the Costières de Nîmes appellation, François and Sylvia grow both beautiful grapes, and incredible fruit (apricots & cherries), in the area where the Provence, Rhône and Languedoc regions all meet around the mouth of the Rhône River. All work is done by hand with great care and skill, and their wines reflect the authentic Provençal setting.

François is meticulous in his viticultural practices and a true believer in sustainable agriculture, using no synthetic herbicides, pesticides or fertilizers on any of his vineyards or crops. The rocky soil here is reminiscent of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and the fruit is always picked late, ensuring very deep, profound wines, with amazingly soft tannins. Sylvia and the boys take over in the winery (the boys work a lot) where she ferments all fruit separately in stainless steel tanks - by varietal and vineyard site!

Domaine des Cantarelles
Cantarelles is owned by Jean-François Fayel. The estate is located southeast of the city of Nîmes. This area was once the delta for the Rhône River and is considered part of the Rhône Valley as opposed to its neighbor, the Languedoc. The region has a warm climate that produces wines noted for their ripe fruit and rich texture. It is the last untapped region for quality wine production in southern France.

GASCOGNE
Domaine du Tariquet
Since 1912 Château du Tariquet has been home to the Grassa family. They first gained notoriety for Hélène and Pierre Grassa’s Armagnac, which is still produced today. In the 1980’s their children, Maïté and Yves, broke all the rules by producing their first still wines, a blend of Ugni Blanc and Colombard. A few years later, they heavily planted and created untraditional blends such as Sauvignon-Chardonnay and Chenin-Chardonnay and word of mouth is how the Tariquet taste and fashion was born!

The first of many awards received by Yves and his family include a Gold Medal in Montpellier and “Winemaker of the Year” by the International Wine Challenge in London.

Wine production is strictly controlled within the Domaine from viticulture to bottling and adheres to sustainable agriculture. To prevent oxidation the grapes are taken directly from the vines to the vats in isothermal tanks. The estate features a water treatment facility and they recycle and reuse all materials. The innovative “bottling to order” at Domaine du Tariquet guarantees consistent quality and freshness.

Domaine Ballade
Owned by the Morel Family since 1927, the estate stretches over 90 hectares. The Morel family works carefully, everyday to bring you the very best wines they have to offer. They ensure the quality of their work, by carrying out the work on vines and the vinification process as a father-and-son team.

LANGUEDOC/ROUSSILLON
Château Lamy
Once the property of the Archbishops of Narbonne, these vineyards date to the 14th century. The vineyard is located on a clay  limestone terrace with small pebbles. This wine is a classic blend of Mouvedre, Syrah, Grenache, and some incredibly old Carignan vines. Château Lamy produces a classic Languedoc red: robust, earthy, and full bodied. Because we direct import this wine, it is also an incredible value.

Le Drunk Rooster
The state bird of France is the rooster and our Le Drunk Rooster wine….is aptly named for our revered symbol of national pride, Le Coq. One of the national emblems of France, the Coq Gaulois (the Gallic Rooster) decorated French flags during the Revolution. It is the symbol of the French people because of the play on words of the Latin gallus meaning Gaul and gallus meaning coq, or rooster. More information can be viewed on the Supplier's website.
 
Les Jamelles
Les Jamelles is a unique collection of hand-crafted wines that have been produced in the South of France since 1991. Catherine and Laurent Delaunay are the two young winemakers from Burgundy whose family has been producing wine for four generations. After working in California, they both fell under the charm of the Languedoc-Roussillon region in the South of France. Catherine Delaunay is one of the few women winemakers in France.

LOIRE
Clos Cristal
Since 1928, Saumur Hospital has owned the 10 hectares (25 acres) of vineyard growing Cabernet Franc grapes bequeathed by Antoine Cristal. The Clos Cristal is historically symbolic for Saumur wine growers, not only because its creator was the first to develop red wines in Saumur, but also because in about 1900, he conceived of an ingenious project. He built three kilometers (2 miles) of walls along which, and through which, the vines grow. Close to he walls, the vine takes advantage of the heat accumulated by the stone, which enables a greater level of ripeness in the fruit. Vinification is carried out to maximize the natural qualities of the grapes; which means that no yeast, sugar, chemical products, or regulation of temperature is used so that the process remains as natural as possible. There are a minimum of 21 days of maceration. The quality of the wine is allowed to develop as a natural process without any artificial acceleration. Only one filtration is performed, if necessary, and the wines are bottled before the summer to be ready to market in September. The main objective in the way that the vineyard is run and the vinification is performed is to produce, naturally, a concentrated and expressive wine. Each year Clos Cristal produces a principal vintage, and another one during the best years only, made exclusively from grapes picked alongside the wall, called “The Wall.”  More information can be found at the supplier's web site.

Chateau de Miniere
Le Château de Minière was built at the end of the 16th century, and is located in the heart of the Bourgueil appellation, in the town of Restigné. The estate was handed down through a line of women for 2 centuries. Today it is run by Evelyne de Mascarel. The vineyards spread over 22 hectares in 3 of the 7 districts in the Bourgueil appellation, therefore allowing a diversity of terroirs. The yields vary from 45 to 55 h/ha, and the vines average 35 years of age. The family practices “lutte raisonnée”, or sustainable agriculture.

Delaunay Joël Delaunay
Domaine Joël Delaunay is located on the bank of the Cher River, about 30 miles east of the city of Tours. There are 24 hectares of vineyards in the same family for 5 generations now. Thierry Delaunay took over the estate in 2002 and obtained the “Terra Vitis” certification that same year guaranteeing the respect of nature, “using ecologically sustainable methods in view to preserve the environment and human health” (excerpt from www.TerrasVitis.com website). Domaine Joël Delaunay is the perfect combination of modern technique and long-lived traditions.
Domaine de La Quilla

Domaine Herve Seguin
Hervé Seguin’s vineyards cover 10 hectares in three villages of Pouilly-Fumé. His vineyards average 30 years of age and are planted in limestone soils, where Sauvignon Blanc performs best. All the fruit goes through a severe selection in the vineyard and is hand harvested to insure the grapes arrive at the winery unblemished. This wine has extraordinary aromatics of smoky, flinty grapefruit with intense Sauvignon flavors. Seguin never pumps or filters prior to bottling.

Domaine Thomas & Fils
For more than ten generations, the Thomas family has been producing wine in the tiny hamlet of Verdigny, one of the 13 villages that make up the famous appellation of Sancerre in the Loire Valley. Jean & Ginette Thomas are the current proprietors, and their two children, Julian (currently studying at the oenology school in Beaune) and Christale, are following in their family’s footsteps. The Thomas own about 33 acres of vines, dedicated almost exclusively to Sauvignon Blanc, the grape type of Sancerre. The soils of Sancerre are based on limestone, with small rocks, or caillottes, forming the top layer. These small, white caillottes mark the magnificent La Crêle vineyard. Located on a southeastern exposed hillside parcel, it adjoins the Perrière vineyard to the east. The vines average 35 years in age, and the site is characterized by its very high aromatic tones and minerality. All of the grapes are hand-harvested, and the wine is fermented in stainless steel.

Laurent Kraft
Domaine des Lauriers has belonged to the Kraft family for 7 generations now. Laurent Kraft took over the 3.5-hectare estate in 1992, and now owns 19 hectares, planted on the banks of the Loire River, where Laurent practices sustainable agriculture. 90% of the vines are between 30 and 90 years of age.

Chenin Blanc does especially well there, where the soils are composed of clay and chalk.
The wines go through very slow fermentation – about 2 months, and are aged on their lees in order to extract more aromas.

MACONNAIS
Christophe Cordier
One of the hottest winemakers in Burgundy. The domaine is located in Fuissé and is renowned for making first class wines from fruit grown in only the best terroirs or sites. Christophe believes the work begins with low yields, hand harvesting only physiologically ripe fruit and intervening as little as possible. Harvest usually starts at the end of September and lasts through the middle of October. All wines are fermented in wood which allows for the sublime flavor integration. The wines express intense and focused aromatics while concentrated, impeccably balanced rich, long flavors take over mouth. Wines from Pouilly Fuissé often rival and surpass many of the top level wines found in the Côte de Beaune, at a fraction of the price.

MADIRAN
Domaine du Crampilh
Domaine du Crampilh’s vines are planted on side hills that are bathed in the sun’s rays, thanks due in part to a south/southeast orientation. Their wines resonate with the strength imparted to them by the chalky-clay soil and the beneficent maritime climate. This oceanic climate has more extremes than the other areas closer to the Atlantic. Unlike other regions that are closer to the coast, here in Madiran the grapes enjoy warmer summers and colder winters that are typified by sudden stormy changes. Over four generations of the Oulie family have kept alive the venerable tradition of winemaking in the heart of the AOC of Madiran. Year by year the grapes are carefully picked by hand, always keeping the traditional sense of well being and conviviality that is the essence of the Southwest of France. Here in the “heart of darkness”, the Oulie family has created a firm, robust red worthy of the centuries old accolade. More information can be found at the supplier's web site

RHÔNE
Andre Brunel
This impeccably run family estate

Belle
This impeccably run family estate

Domaine Belle
This impeccably run family estate is located in the village of Larnage, about 2 miles north of the 300-acre vineyard of Hermitage. Larnage is the closest of the 11 villages that make up the appellation of Crozes-Hermitage. The Belle family farms 18 hectare (54 acres) of vines and 10 hectare (25 acres) of apricots. They were members of the co-op in Tain-Hermitage, but in 1988, after Philippe had completed his education in Montpellier, they began to make their own wine at their new winery.

Elicio
This impeccably run family estate

Mommessin
When Jacques Duez was elected Pope of Avignon, he set up the famous castle of Châteauneuf in the 1300s, the ruins of which, 25 miles north of Avignon, are still the symbol of the wine-growing area. The vineyards, filled with pebbles and gravel, provide the barest of nutrients for the very old vine Syrah and Grenache that forms the basis of this blend. This wine can typically be aged for up to ten years and exhibits a very dark and rich flavor profile.
 

Moulin de la Gardette
This impeccably run family estate

Chateau de Montfaucon
This impeccably run family estate

Domaine Santa Duc
Yves Gras is the young, passionate owner of Domaine Santa Duc. Bobby Kacher lived across the road from him in Gigondas for four years, and he watched him work. The vineyards are incredibly done and Gras has improved every segment of this already excellent estate. Gigondas is a rugged area of mountains and very rocky terrain located in the eastern Rhône Valley.

Ogier
This impeccably run family estate

Domaine de la Berthete
This impeccably run family estate

Domaine de Florets
This impeccably run family estate

In Fine— Information can be found at the supplier's web site.

Domaine Jerome Gradassi
The cooperative, founded more than 65 years ago

Lauden / Chusclan
The cooperative, founded more than 65 years ago

Vignerons de Chusclan
The cooperative, founded more than 65 years ago, produces Côtes-du-Rhône and Côtes-du-Rhône Villages wines from vineyard plantings throughout the Chusclan Valley. These plantings are meticulously mapped and measured, and are harvested and vinified separately to maintain their distinct characteristics — either to be bottled on their own, or used to add complexity to other wines during blending.