Celebrate Bastille Day July 14th - Drink French Wine! - From the Vine to Wine (2024)

Anne Arnold

July 12, 2021

About Wine | Experience

This Wednesday, July 14th, is the French National holiday, and what better way to celebrate than drinking French wine! It is a day that is similar to our Independence Day, when the French Revolution started and the country began to extricate itself from the monarchy and move towards a republic. Our American Revolution was an inspiration for many and it can be said that it was a catalyst for France to follow along to government by the people.

France has a very long history of winemaking, going back thousands of years to when the Greeks and Romans settled there and cultivated the vine. Wine was an important product, both for export and to support the people in the many cities of the Roman Empire that spread throughout the country. If there was a Roman city, you can guarantee there were vineyards nearby.

Celebrate Bastille Day July 14th - Drink French Wine! - From the Vine to Wine (1)

In the middle ages and beyond, monks, the scientists and winemakers of the day, perfected creating this beverage that is so linked to the Christian religion, as well as provided a source of nutrients and calories for the populace. They researched and observed the various types of grapes, experimented with new agricultural methods, how they grew, and discovered the nuances of different plots of land that became the beginning of the concept of terroir.

Terroir is the combination of factors including soil, climate, and sunlight that gives wine grapes their distinctive character.

Merriam Webster Dictionary

There is a reason that this is a uniquely French word and has no direct translation in other languages. It is truly a French concept that has existed for centuries and is still a revered part of winemaking in France.

Celebrate Bastille Day July 14th - Drink French Wine! - From the Vine to Wine (2)

One of the reasons I decided to take the course from the Wine Scholar Guild and become a certified French Wine Scholar was that this country is so diverse in not only its wine regions, but its styles and varieties of wine.

I, perhaps like you, would walk down the French wine aisle at the liquor store and be intimidated, not to mention confused, by the labels. Each bottle appeared to just have the name of the town or region and NO easily discernable information on what was in the bottle.

Months of study later and several trips to France, where we took some fantastic wine road trips, and it all started to make sense. Now, for me, the French wine section gives me the same feeling I had as a child in the penny candy store (yes, I am that old!) with a bag of change.

To put it simply, the array of choices, styles, flavors and varietals is just fantastic and I just want one of everything!

The map above, from my French Wine Scholar program, shows the main wine regions of France. Within those regions there are numerous sub regions, villages, individual vineyards even, that each have a different expression of the grapes and the terroir. Where do you start?

Did you know that many of the wines we drink every day are originally from France? Here are a few different ideas to change up your usual wine choice (and since you’re reading this blog, I assume you are “wine curious” and want to experiment) and dip a toe into the wonderful world of French wine:

If you like Sauvignon Blanc: look for a white Sancerre or Pouilly-Fumé from the Loire Valley

If you like Chardonnay: choose a white Burgundy, for example Macon-Villages, or Chablis (unoaked)

If you like Prosecco: indulge in the various types of French bubbly – Champagne, Cremant de Limoux, Cremant d’Alsace (anything Cremant is a traditional style sparkling wine)

If you like Pinot Noir: choose any red from Burgundy..it is almost always a Pinot Noir

If you like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot: look for reds from Bordeaux, which are a blend of these two grapes in various proportions depending on where and by whom they are made

If you like Malbec: try the real thing from Cahors, also known a “black wine”, because Malbec is NOT originally from Argentina!

These suggestions are just the tip pf the iceberg, but a good way to start exploring all that French wine has to offer. I hope it will inspire you to try some new things, even pick up a random bottle, do a little background research, and taste a bit of what makes France such a special wine region.

Santé!

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Celebrate Bastille Day July 14th - Drink French Wine! - From the Vine to Wine (2024)

FAQs

What happened on July 14 Bastille Day responses? ›

The Storming of the Bastille

On the morning of July 14, the people of Paris seized weapons from the armoury at the Invalides and marched in the direction of an ancient Royal fortress, the Bastille. After a bloody round of firing, the crowd broke into the Bastille and released the handful of prisoners held there.

Why do the French celebrate July 14 Bastille Day as their Independence day? ›

French National Day is the anniversary of the Storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789, a major event of the French Revolution, as well as the Fête de la Fédération that celebrated the unity of the French people on 14 July 1790. Celebrations are held throughout France.

What is celebrated on July 14 each year to commemorate the storming of the Bastille? ›

Bastille Day, national holiday in France and its overseas départements and territories, marking the anniversary of the fall on July 14, 1789, of the Bastille, in Paris.

What happened on July 14, Bastille Day Quizlet? ›

A state prison in Paris, known as the Bastille, was attacked by a discontent and angry mob. The mob demanded the arms and ammunition stored at the Bastille. After the rejection, they stormed the prison, took arms and ammunition, and released prisoners held there.

How to celebrate Bastille Day? ›

This summer holiday is celebrated with gusto, with all-night parties, picnics, and fireworks. And the fun permeates the country, from tiny towns to Paris. The day marks the symbolic start of the French Revolution, which brought down its powerful monarchy.

What is eaten on Bastille Day? ›

On Bastille Day, the French mark the anniversary of their taking to the streets by eating in the streets. So a simple picnic with a French accent is the perfect way to mark the occasion. All you need is a fresh baguette, a bottle of wine, a wheel of cheese and some charcuterie.

What did Bastille symbolize? ›

The Bastille was a fortress in Paris, known formally as the Bastille Saint-Antoine. It played an important role in the internal conflicts of France and for most of its history was used as a state prison by the kings of France. It was a symbol of despotic monarchy.

Do the French say Happy Bastille Day? ›

There is no French equivalent to "Happy Bastille Day" – all you can say is, generically, Bonne fête ! And of course, there's also Vive la France ! (but try not to overuse it). Bastille Day is one of the symbols of France (others are Marianne, the flag, the Marseillaise …)

Why was the Bastille hated by all? ›

Bastille was a fortress prison in France. It was a symbol of the despotic powers of King Louis XVI. Hence it was hated all in France. The fortress was demolished and its stone fragments were sold in the markets.

Why did people storm the Bastille? ›

storming of the Bastille, iconic conflict of the French Revolution. On July 14, 1789, fears that King Louis XVI was about to arrest France's newly constituted National Assembly led a crowd of Parisians to successfully besiege the Bastille, an old fortress that had been used since 1659 as a state prison.

Why did the people storm the Bastille on July 14 1789 give three reasons? ›

On July 14 1789 the Paris mob, hungry due to a lack of food from poor harvests, upset at the conditions of their lives and annoyed with their King and Government, stormed the Bastille fortress (a prison). This turned out to be more symbolic than anything else as only four or five prisoners were found.

Why was the destruction of the Bastille on July 14 1789 significant event in the French Revolution? ›

The Bastille then represented royal authority in the centre of Paris. The prison contained only seven inmates at the time of its storming and was already scheduled for demolition, but was seen by the revolutionaries as a symbol of the monarchy's abuse of power. Its fall was the flashpoint of the French Revolution.

What happened to the Bastille? ›

The Bastille was subsequently demolished by order of the Revolutionary government. Where the Bastille once stood is today a public square called the Place de la Bastille. Pubs, cafes, and nightclubs populate the area, and concerts are frequently held in the square.

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