There’s undoubtedly some good information about French wines online and you can learn a lot from a visit to a vineyard, but what if you want to delve deeper? Take your knowledge a few steps further? That’s where the best books about French wines come into their own.
However, which are the best? Type “French wines” into an online bookshop search and it offers volumes (literally), making choosing the best reads a tad challenging. But as always, we’ve done the research for you and come up with our list of the eight best books about French wine. And we’ve included a selection of general knowledge, regional insight and even a novel focused on the world of vin.
Best book about French wine history – French Wine A History
If you’d like to know more about how France became one of the world’s biggest producers of wine as well as synonymous with the finest tipples on earth, this is your book. Author Rod Phillips starts with the Etruscans and then moves through the centuries to the latest in the French wine timeline.
Best of all? We like the depth of detail in this book, which really is one for history buffs who enjoy wine. And when you’ve finished, you’ll be the go-to ‘Phone-A-Friend’ for the wine questions in any gameshow!
Published by University of California Press and available to buy online.
Best book about French wine terroir – Land and Wine: the French Terroir
Get to grips with the je ne said quoi of that quintessential terroir and you’re well on the way to understanding the crux of vin français. This easy-to-read guide explains all the ins and outs of terroir and, by the end, you’ll know exactly what it is and why it plays such a huge part in French wines.
Best of all? Author Charles Frankel’s style makes geology so readable and we enjoyed his nuggets of history that pop up throughout the book.
Published by The University of Chicago Press and available online.
Best book about regional wine – Complete Bordeaux
If you’re looking to get up close and personal with the king of wine regions, this coffee-table tome is for you. Now in its fourth edition, Complete Bordeaux does exactly as its title says. It leaves no stone on any terroir unturned as author Stephen Brook travels Bordeaux’s well-known properties and pops into lesser-known vineyards.
Best of all? We love the abundance of photos (which will have you rushing to book a holiday in Bordeaux) and excellent maps. Plus, all the information is in one place – as the Huffington Post says, “this book is definitive”.
Published by Mitchell Beazley and available online from a range of retailers.
Best travel guide to French wine regions – Michelin Green Guide
When it comes to travel and fine wining and dining, these guys know a thing or two, so it’s no surprise to find a Michelin guide on our list. This one guides you around the 14 best-known wine regions in the country, introducing you to the sights, attractions and culinary treats along the way. It also includes a guide to the official wine routes.
Best of all? The maps stand out for us and, of course, the star-rating system is second to none.
Available online from Amazon here.
Ultimate annual guide to French wines – Guide Hachette des Vins 2023
If you’re looking for the latest definitive book on the best French wines, here is your bible. Published annually, it gives the lowdown on tasters’ opinions of 35,000 wines and a ranking of 8,000 of the best.
Best of all? OK, this book only comes in French, but it’s bang up-to-date and star ratings are universal. Plus, we love the vintage cover!
Published by Hachette and available online.
Best French wine cookbook – Richard Olney’s French Wine and Food
Part of the appeal of French wines lies in their ability to pair perfectly with local food. To show you how to match them at home, Olney tours wine regions and showcases local specialities and the wine that goes with them.
Best of all? Olney has a unique writing style and as a result, the recipes are almost poetic. Plus, you get some great ideas for new menus.
Published by Interlink Publishing and available to buy here.
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Best book about wine all round – Wine Folly: Magnum Edition
This is one of those books that tells you everything you were afraid to ask about wine and in plain English. While this book isn’t exclusively about French wines, they take the lion’s share in the regions and you get to learn absolutely everything about wine into the bargain.
Best of all? The graphics bring wine alive and the fact that French wines get at least twice the space as other regions!
Published by Penguin Michael Joseph and available to buy online.
Best vineyard read – Light Through the Vines
This entry on our list goes fictional and follows the story of Gina, a Londoner who embarks on a new life in a house in the heart of the Bordeaux wine countryside. Written by Fiona Valpy, the novel follows the ups and downs (emotional and enological) before reaching a satisfying ending.
Best of all? Page-turning fiction with an insight into the making of French wine.
Published by Amazon and available online.
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