Is one of your New Year’s Resolutions to spelunk through the wine caves of France in 2012?
Then you need the “Metro Wine Map of France” ($25), created by Dr. David Gissen, who is an architectural historian and wine enthusiast.
The map resembles a public transit map — you can take a look at it here (http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Wine-France-David-Gissen/dp/1936880040/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324297004&sr=1-1) — and that design approach helps put France’s wine regions into clear focus.
Dr. Gissen uses a different color to note each of his delineated regions:
- The Loire Valley
- Burgundy
- The Rhone Valley
- Provence and Corsica
- Languedoc-Roussillon
- Bordeaux
- The south-west
- Champagne, Alsace and Lorraine
- Jura and Savoie
Appellations within each region are clearly marked, and the map also indicates each area’s key winegrape varieties.
A nice bonus is the wide array of architectural landmarks that are shown — selected by a man who knows about such things.
If you’re heading to France in the new year, think of this map as you would your American Express card: Don’t leave home without it.
