Visiting These Regions

Jura

- Base: Arbois or Lons-le-Saunier - Season: September harvest beautiful - Must-see: Château-Chalon village - Activity: Comté cheese route

Savoie

- Base: Chambéry or Annecy - Season: Summer for hiking, winter for skiing - Must-see: Lake views - Activity: Combine with Alpine activities

Corsica

- Base: Bastia (Patrimonio) or Ajaccio - Season: Spring or fall, avoid summer crowds - Must-see: Cap Corse drive - Activity: Beach and vineyard combination

These three regions remind us why diversity matters in wine. In an increasingly homogenized world, they maintain distinct identities. They prove that commercial success need not mean abandoning tradition, that small can be beautiful, that the best wines often come from the most challenging places.

Whether you seek the oxidative complexity of Jura, the Alpine freshness of Savoie, or the wild herbs of Corsica, these regions reward the curious. They're not easy wines—they demand attention, contemplation, often explanation. But for those willing to explore, they offer experiences available nowhere else, reminders that wine at its best is about place, tradition, and the courage to be different.

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Next: Chapter 11 raises a glass to French spirits—from Cognac's elegance to Armagnac's rusticity, from Calvados's apple orchards to the herb liqueurs of the Alps.# Chapter 11: French Spirits - Cognac, Armagnac, and More