Long before there was a place called France, people were making wine in the region. Viticulture came to Southern Gaul with the arrival of Greek settlers in the 6th century BC. And by the time the Romans arrived, five hundred years later, winemaking was so popular that they dedicated regions in the south to it. Viticulture soon became a respected profession, though its secrets were almost lost during the Middle Ages. Fortunately for oenophiles everywhere, monks maintained vineyards and transcribed thousands of years of winemaking knowledge. Why did they do it? Well, the monks still needed wine for mass. Not to mention the fact that they were able to earn a tidy sum in that uncertain period. Centuries later, the French wine industry had gone international and had become a steady source of income for the country. But then came two world wars and a long period of economic recovery. During that period, competition from neighbouring countries like Italy and Spain increased. In later years, the country made huge investments in the industry that made it the undisputed world leader in wine production by the 1970s. Today, you can even purchase French Wine Online. Why is French wine so highly regarded? Tradition and variety are two very obvious reasons. At last count, there are over 472 different kinds of wines that are produced in France. The country is also home to the world's most popular grape varieties, including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The total numbers are also quite impressive. Each year, French vineyards turn out between seven and eight billion bottles of wine. About a third of these wines are white, while the remainder is obviously red.
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