French Wines to Celebrate the 2024 Summer Paris Olympic Games

1. Champagne Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé

Champagne is the wine of celebration, so it has to be the first bottle on this list!

Video © Champagne Billecart-Salmon

La Maison de Champagne Billecart-Salmon is older than the Olympic Games. The first Summer Games were held in Athens in 1896, while the bubbly history started in 1818 when Nicolas François Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon were married, marking the creation of their Champagne House. Now, over seven generations, the family’s motto continues: “Give priority to quality, strive for excellence.”

The majority of the grapes used for vinification by Champagne Billecart-Salmon come from a radius of 20 kilometers around Épernay, where the Grand Crus of Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay co-exist, in the ethereal vineyards of the Montagne de Reims, the Vallée de la Marne and the Côte des Blancs.

The Wine

Origin: Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, France
Varietals: 40% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, 30% Pinot Meunier (with 40% reserve wines)
Price: $99.99
ABV: 12%

A beautiful pale pink color shows as background for the very fine, energetic bubbles. The nose is very subtle and fine, displaying red berries, citrus zest and creamy apple. The palate is round, boasting fresh acidity and ripe wild strawberries finishing with pinpoint precision and elegance.

> For more information, visit the Champagne Billecart-Salmon official website.

RELATED: GAYOT’s exclusive interview Mathieu Roland-Billecart, president Champagne Billecart-Salmon

2. Rosé 2022 | Château La Mascaronne

Videos © Château La Mascaronne

This is probably the wine the closest to the Olympics. We are pretty sure that you will remember Parker, one of the last athletes to carry the torch during the Opening Ceremony in La Cour Carré du Louvre.

In 2022, NBA star Tony Parker partnered with Michel Reybier, the owner of none the less than Cos d’Estournel, a Second Growth in Saint-Estèphe, Domaine Impérial Tokaj-Hétszölö, the Jeeper Champagne house and La Réserve hotels in Paris, Geneva, Zurich and Ramatuelle.

Château La Mascaronne is located in a beautiful landscape that is only found in Provence. Situated on a hillside at the highest point of the estate, the vines thrive deep into a soil of clay and limestone, in a unique terroir. Because of its elevation of three hundred meters, La Mascaronne enjoys a unique microclimate: nighttime temperatures are constantly several degrees cooler than along the shore.

Careful analysis of the soils and subsoils allows the winegrowing team to adapt its selection of grape varietals to the specificities of each plot. Château La Mascaronne was Agriculture Biologique certified in 2016. The wines are crafted exclusively from grapes grown at the estate. The Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah and Vermentino grapes, typical Provence varietals, are harvested at the height of ripeness.

The Wine

Origin: Provence
Appellation: Côtes de Provence AOC
Varietal: 40% Grenache, 35% Cinsault, 15% Syrah, 10% Rolle
Price: $30
ABV: 13.5%

The result is a fresh, balanced, and organic Provence rosé that showcases the distinctive qualities of its terroir. It has the luminous pink hue immediately identifiable as a Provence wine. It delivers aromas of fresh, ripe fruit.

> For more information, visit Château La Mascaronne official website.

RELATED: Celebrate the 2024 Olympics at the Bar à Champagne by La Maison Barons de Rothschild | Le 39V, Paris

3 Crémant de Limoux Brut NV | Côté Mas

Origin: Languedoc, Occitanie
Appellation: Crémant de Limoux AOC
Varietal: 60% Chardonnay, 20% Chenin Blanc, 10% Pinot Noir, 10% Mauzac
Price: $20.99
ABV: 12%

Vines are planted on clay and limestone soils at an elevation of 820 to 920 feet. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel vats. After primary fermentation, the “Liqueur de Tirage,” a blend of sugar and yeast, is added to the juice a few hours before bottling. After one year of aging, the lees are expelled, and the “Liqueur de Dosage” is added and aged an additional twelve months.

First on the nose: honey, acacia and crystallized lemon. Then on the palate: citrus fruits and balanced acidity.

Food pairings: An excellent apéritif, but also pairs well with all styles of cuisine.

> For more information, click here.

4. Le Blanc de Greysac Bordeaux Blanc 2022 | Château Greysac

Located on the Left Bank, Château Greysac was built in the 1700s. It is classified as a Cru Bourgeois. In the course of its history, the Château, in 1960, was the property of Georges Héreil, one of the designers of the Caravelle aircraft, and the president of the French Civil Aviation Authority. With his relations, he put Château Greysac on the map. To the point that in the ’70s, the Château was sold to François de Gunzburg, an empire baron from a family of Russian bankers, in partnership with the Agnelli family (Fiat, Ferrari). It was then purchased in 2012 by Jean Guyon, owner of Domaine Rollan de By. His philosophy is to treat his Crus Bourgeois with the same care as the Crus Classés.

The Wine

Origin: Médoc, Bordelais
Appellation: Bordeaux Blanc AOC
Varietal: 100% Sauvignon Blanc 
Price: $26.99
ABV: 13.5%

The grapes are harvested at night to preserve the freshness of the fruit. The wine is vinified in thermo-regulated stainless steel tanks and bottled in Stelvin closure to preserve its aromatic complexity.

It is a very well-balanced Sauvignon Blanc. It boats a vibrant style with limestone, citrus, and green apple aromas. We like the lively acidity. A great bottle for apéritif.

Pair the wine with this Vegetarian Butternut Curry

Enjoy Le Blanc de Greysac with this recipe from Château Greysac. Serves 4

INGREDIENTS:
– 1 tbsp vegetable oil
– 500g/20 oz. butternut squash (about 1 small squash), peeled and chopped into bite-sized chunks
– 100g/3.5 oz. frozen chopped onions
– 4 heaped tbsp mild curry paste (we used korma)
– 400g/15 oz. chopped tomatoes
– 400g/15 oz. light coconut milk
– 400g/15 oz. lentils, drained
– 200g/8 oz. baby spinach
– 150ml/5 oz. coconut yogurt, plus extra to serve

METHOD:
Heat the oil in a large pan. Put the squash in a bowl with a splash of water. Cover with cling film and microwave on High for 10 minutes or until tender. Meanwhile, add the onions to the hot oil and cook for a few minutes until soft. Add the curry paste, tomatoes and coconut milk, and simmer for 10 minutes until thickened to a rich sauce.
Drain any liquid from the squash, then add to the sauce with the lentils, spinach and some seasoning. Simmer for a further 2-3 minutes to wilt the spinach, then stir in the coconut yogurt. Serve with warm naan and a dollop of extra yogurt.

Other food pairings: seafood, summer salads, Asian dishes and many other vegetarian dishes.

> For more information, visit Château Greysac official website.

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5. La Petite Perrière Pinot Noir 2022 | Saget La Perrière

Origin: Touraine, Loire Valley
Appellation: Vin de France
Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir 
Price: $15.99
ABV: 12.5%

Saget La Perrière has been family owned since 1790, which represents nine generations. Their knowledge of Pinot Noir has led them to explore every aspect of the varietal and fully reveal its potential. 

La Petite Perrière Pinot Noir is largely sourced from the Saget family’s estate vineyards in Touraine (Loire Valley). The grapes are picked by hand. After spending three weeks in vat, the wines are aged in barrels for six months before being bottled.

The wine displays crimson hue with ruby tints. On the nose, you will find morello cherries and red berries, followed by an array of spice and vanilla aromas. It is light on the palate.

Food Pairings: Charcuterie plate, beef stew and cheese.

> For more information, visit Saget La Perrière official website.

RELATED: The Best Pinot Noir Wines

SUGGESTED READING: How Wine is Made

6. Les Légendes R Médoc 2019 | Les Domaines Barons de Rothschild

Origin: Médoc, Bordelais
Appellation: Médoc AOC
Varietal: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot  
Price: $27.99
ABV: 13.5%

The Rothschild family has been making wine in Bordeaux since 1868. Over six generations have embraced the beauty of the region, and its unique characteristics of the vines in each appellation. Diane Flamand, the oenologist responsible for Les Légendes R, creates it by blending carefully selected wines.

Médoc, on the left bank of the Gironde Estuary, north of Bordeaux, benefits from an exceptional situation and a unique clay and limestone terroir, on gravelly hilltops.

2019 was a year of contrasts and was characterized by tremendous variation. A cool spring, scorching heat in the summer and dry weather throughout the year prevented the development of diseases. However, cold, rainy weather in June disrupted flowering, causing coulure and millerandage. Furthermore, water stress, which varied depending on the area and the terroir, resulted in some instances of ripening being checked. The berries were therefore small, resulting in lower than usual yields. Fortunately, there was some rain after September 22nd, which relaunched the ripening process and enabled the red grape varieties to reach a good level of maturity.

This wine is made in the traditional Bordeaux method: grapes are destemmed and crushed before being placed in thermoregulated stainless steel tanks for fermentation. Total maceration time lasts around three weeks, with regular pumping overs, to obtain good concentration of tannins and color.

This is a full-bodied wine, with boldness and power, and a deep garnet color. Spicy aromas of vanilla and nutmeg dominate on the nose. It shows a core of dark fruit balanced with subtle oaky notes.

> For more information, visit Les Domaines Baron de Rothschild official website.

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CONTINUE READING: Champagne Bottle Sizes

7. Gewürztraminer 2019 | Maison Trimbach

Maison Trimbach’s history began in 1626! Now, the thirteenth generation is carrying on the family legacy. In 1898, Maison Trimbach won the “Diplôme d’Honneur” at the Brussels International Fair, establishing its international reputation. In 1920, the headquarters were moved to Ribeauvillé where they are still located today. The Trimbach family is a reference point for fine Alsace wine. They are also one of the largest owners of Grand Cru vineyards in the region, which account for a third of their total production. At every level, their wines embody the celebrated Trimbach style: structured, long-lived, fruit-driven, dry, elegant, and above all balanced.

The vineyards are in a semi-continental climate, which means cold winters, hot and dry summers, sometimes stormy, and beautiful and dry autumns. The sunshine is optimal, and the rainfall is very low because it is protected from oceanic influences by the Vosges mountains. The vines are, on average, 45 years old. At this stage the root network is fully established in its soil and reveals all its facets and specificities.

The Wine

Origin: Alsace
Appellation: Alsace AOC
Varietal: 100% Gewürztraminer
Price: $35.99
ABV: 14.5%

Fresh and fragrant, this Gewürztraminer is dry, spicy, rich and distinctively aromatic, with notes of roses, lychee, and citrus fruit.

Food Pairings: fish, white meat, foie gras, spicy dishes or on its own.

> For more information, visit Trimbach official website.

RELATED: Foie Gras Terrine Recipe

8. Côtes de Provence Rosé 2023 | RUMOR

The Côtes de Provence Rosé produced by Barry Bayat is no longer a rumor but a now well-established wine in the rosé portfolio. In 2019, Bayat’s love for wine surpassed the one of his former profession (finance in the City). He moved to Provence and embarked on a new adventure, in pursuit of creating an elegant rosé. In 2024, we can attest that it was done with success.

The grapes come from vineyards with rock, clay, and limestone-based soil, creating a dry and rapidly draining environment which allows the grapes to develop maximum phenolic ripeness while maintaining freshness along the coast. The harvest takes place just before sunrise at 6°C-8°C (42.8°F-46.4°F) to capture freshness and brightness, ensuring structure and fruit balance. The grapes are quickly transported to the winery for pressing with soft maceration after sorting and destemming. They are vinified separately, and then blended in December to craft the final wine. Once blended, the wine is aged in stainless, temperature-controlled vats for three months to preserve its natural clarity. RUMOR is an easy-drinking, high-quality rosé.

The Wine

Origin: Provence
Appellation: Côtes de Provence AOC
Varietal: 60% Grenache, 35% Cinsault, 3% Syrah, 1% Mourvèdre, 1% Tibouren
Price: $29.99
ABV: 12.5%

With zero residual sugar, RUMOR is light and full of flavor. It holds a classic pale pink hue. It masterfully blends delicate citrus and fruit aromas with a well-rounded crisp and dry finish.

Food pairing: apéritif; Mediterranean cuisine, light pastas, sushi, and grilled seafood.

> For more information, visit RUMOR Rosé official website.

RELATED: The Best Rosé Wines

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