- The Languedoc-Roussillon wine region
- The South West wine region (regroups vineyards scattered across the south and northeastern part of Aquitaine and the western part of Midi-Pyrénées)
- The Bordeaux wine region (northwestern part of Aquitaine)

All 3 regions produce mainly red wines. However, excellent sweet and dry white wines are produced there too.

The Languedoc-Roussillon is the largest vine growing area in the world with 2 billion bottles / year! It is several times bigger than the Australian wine region or the Bordeaux region. A good share of the production is "Vins de Table" or "Table wines" (25%) and "Vins de Pays" (50%), which are perfect as every day wines.

Nonetheless, Languedoc-Roussillon has over 55 AOCs (AOC or « Appellation      d'origine controlée » or « Controlled term of origin » are governed by laws which      dictate the composition of their vineyards, time of harvest and appropriate      yields as well as various winemaking techniques), including famous ones like:      Corbieres, Faugeres, Fitou & Saint Chinian (Full-body red wines ),      Costieres (Medium-body red wine),      Banyuls, Carthagene & Maury (Sweet red wines), Roussillon (Light & dry rosé),      Costieres, Languedoc & Minervois (Dry white wines),      Muscat de Rivesaltes & Banyuls (Sweet white wines),      Limoux (Sparkling white wine).                                            The south west region also has quality wines, that are dispatched into 22 AOCs      (9 from Dordogne/Bergerac & 7 from the Garonne). The most renowned are:      Madiran, Bergerac, Buzet, Cahors & Gaillac (Full-body reds),      Bergerac & Jurancon (Dry aromatic whites),      Monbazillac & Gaillac (Fruity sweet whites).

But the Bordeaux region is the most reputable of them all. Arguably the most well-known wine region of France and probably of the world, Bordeaux produces such very prestigious wines as Chateau Margaux (Margaux AOC), Pétrus (Pomerol AOC), Cheval Blanc (Saint-Emilion AOC) and Yquem (Sauternes AOC). In total, there are 57 AOCs of Bordeaux wines.

Quality wise, the Bordeaux region accounts for a third of France’s best quality wines (AOC, Crus Bourgeois and Crus Classés).

The best Bordeaux wines are classified in 5 different classifications:

• The “Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855”, classifies Red Wines of Médoc, and Sweet Wines of Sauternes and Barsac.
• The 1955 Official Classification of St. Emilion.
• The 1959 Official Classification of Graves.
• The Cru Bourgeois Classification (enforced until 2007, when it was annulled).
• The Classification of Cru Artisan.

It is important to mention, however, that The Pomerol wines, as famous as they are, have never been classified.

For more information on Bordeaux wine production, explanations on the sub-regions of Bordeaux and for more details about the different classifications of its AOCs, please click here to visit our page dedicated to Bordeaux wines.

How to pair wines from Southwestern France and food?

Here are a few tips:
> Pair Red wines with: Cassoulet, roasted duck, grilled red meat, patés, sausages and salami. Red Bordeaux, especially, are excellent with beef, lamb, grilled veal, pheasant, poultry such as grilled turkey or with cheeses like Camembert, Brie and Roquefort.
> Drink Rosés with: salads, omelets.
> Dry white wines are perfect in an aperitif, or with a river fish (such as trout or salmon), sea food or white meat.
> Sweet white wines go very well with Foie gras or as an aperitif. You can also serve them with a desert.

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