Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/751131
The northwesterly, dry, harsh winds that affect the Rhône Valley are referred to as THE MISTRAL. THE PINK sandstone in Alsace is known as Grès de Vosges, which is also the name of an Alsatian cheese. CÔTE RÔTIE translates to "roasted slope." FRANCE With its storied past FRANCE 35 and celebrated culture, France has long been a leader in the wine and food scene. Approximately a third of France falls under a continental climate, making its terroir varied and sometimes challeng- ing. The maritime climate regions depend on the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea and, although still susceptible, see less dramatic sea- sonal threats. The continental climates: Champagne, while also pushing the northern grape growing boundary, struggles to ripen each year in its famous chalky soils. Burgundy grapples with the four seasons as frost, spring and autumn rains and hail can dra- matically reduce yields. The long, slender region is comprised of Kimmeridgian soils in the north- ernmost sub-section of Chablis, moving into lime- stone in the renowned Côte d'Or before transi- tioning into granite in Beaujolais. Alsace, on the German border, is sheltered by the Vosges moun- tains and has a mélange of soil types which allows it to produce Grand Cru wines from four separate grape varieties. The maritime climates: Bordeaux sits at the con- vergence of the Gironde and the Dordogne rivers, which greatly influences the sub-regions, providing the "left bank-right bank" divide. The Mediterranean coast basks in sunlight and has been known for for- tified wines but currently also plays with varieties in different terroirs. The southern Rhone, most notably Châteauneuf-du-Pape contains galets—large boul- ders that retain heat overnight. The term terroir originated in France for a reason. With so many climates and soil types, the nature of where the vineyard sits dramatically changes the wine style. Grapes need to nestle in to the best site in order to produce spectacular wines.