It is impossible to discuss the wine industry of the world without mentioning the wines of France. Since the time of the Ancient Romans, France has been one of the leading players in the growth of wine as a worldwide industry. Through centuries of trial and error France has perfected its wines. These wines are considered the standard to emulate by other regions around the world.

French vineyards have seen their share of wars and been subject to different ruling governments. The British had control of Bordeaux before it was finally won back by the French in 1453. With war comes the inevitable destruction of farm and vineyards. The French refined their wine industry in Bordeaux after the English left, but this was not the end of the region's political troubles. The French wine industry was not without its setbacks. In fact, production of French wines may have halted completely after the fall of the Roman Empire without the efforts of Charlemagne and the Church to keep it going.

In addition to the conflict with the British, the French have also been subjected to wars between their own country Holland and Germany throughout the, 17th and 18th centuries. Not only did these conflicts cause some physical damage to the vines, but helped slow world trade as well. Only with the free trade agreements in the 19th century were the wines of France able to become more of a force in the world's marketplaces.

The Phylloxera epidemic in the late 19th century was only to be replaced by the turmoil caused by two world wars. The French have done a remarkable job repairing their wine industry after so many calamities and their wines still rank among the highest in the world today. Both Bordeaux and Burgundy are known throughout the world as producers of very fine wines. Many of these wines tend to be expensive, but are said to be worth the price.