French Wine - History, Terroirs, Appellations

French wine is produced in several regions throughout France, in quantities between 50 and 60 million hectolitres per year, or 7–8 billion bottles. France has the world's second-largest total vineyard area, behind Spain, and is in the position of being the world's largest wine producer losing it once (in 2008) to Italy. French wine traces its history to the 6th century BC, with many of France's regions dating their wine-making history to Roman times.