Wine ยท Regions
Wine regions of France, Italy and the US West Coast
Learn regions as a set of three facts each: where it is, what grapes it grows and what style it makes.
Regions are often the hardest part of wine revision. Start with the big ones below. Our wine glossary has maps for all three countries, so you can see where each place sits.
France
- Bordeaux: reds blended from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The Left Bank (Médoc, Graves) leans Cabernet; the Right Bank (Saint-Émilion, Pomerol) leans Merlot. Sauternes makes famous sweet wines.
- Burgundy: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Chablis is lean Chardonnay; the Côte d'Or has the famous villages. Beaujolais, to the south, is Gamay.
- Champagne: sparkling wine from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.
- Loire Valley: Sauvignon Blanc (Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé), Chenin Blanc (Vouvray), Muscadet.
- Rhône: Syrah in the north (Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage); Grenache-based blends in the south (Châteauneuf-du-Pape).
- Alsace: aromatic whites: Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris.
Italy
- Piedmont: Nebbiolo (Barolo, Barbaresco), Barbera, and sweet sparkling Moscato d'Asti.
- Tuscany: Sangiovese: Chianti, Chianti Classico and Brunello di Montalcino.
- Veneto: Prosecco, Soave, Valpolicella and Amarone.
- Sicily: Nero d'Avola and the volcanic wines of Etna.
- Puglia: warm-climate reds such as Primitivo.
US West Coast
- California: Napa Valley is known for Cabernet Sauvignon; Sonoma and the Central Coast for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir; Lodi and others for Zinfandel.
- Oregon: the Willamette Valley is the home of Pinot Noir.
- Washington: the Columbia Valley makes Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Riesling in a dry, irrigated landscape.
Remember the naming systems
- France uses appellations (AOC) tied to place and rules.
- Italy uses DOC and DOCG classifications.
- The US uses American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), which define a place but do not dictate grapes or methods.
Note: this is a general study guide written in our own words, not WSET's syllabus. For what is examined, always check WSET's published specification and your course provider.
Ready to test yourself?
Try a full-length practice exam under real timing and see where you stand.
Start practicing