Vin de France French wine appellation guide: location, history, wines, climate & soil
Vin de France is the broadest French wine category, covering wines made anywhere in France without a specific appellation, giving winemakers total freedom over grapes, blends and styles, from easy everyday wines to bold natural and experimental cuvées.
More info about Vin de France
Geographic position
The whole of France: grapes can come from any French vineyard and even be blended across regions, from Alsace and the Loire to Languedoc, the Rhône and Bordeaux.
Origin & history
Vin de France replaced the old "Vin de Table" category in 2009, as part of a European reform. Unlike table wine, it allows the grape variety and vintage to appear on the label. Many talented natural-wine and independent producers now choose Vin de France to work outside appellation rules, making it home to some of the most creative wines in France.
Wines & grape varieties
Red, rosé, white, orange and sparkling wines from any authorised grape, including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Syrah, Grenache, Gamay, Pinot Noir and rare local varieties. Styles range from fruity and light to complex, skin-contact and pét-nat.
Climate & soil
Varies with the origin of the grapes, from cool continental and oceanic climates in the north to hot Mediterranean climates in the south, on every type of French soil.
Grape varieties: Chardonnay, Gamay, Grenache Noir, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah