Vin de France: Vignobles Dubois #9Max Red

Situated in the beautiful South-West of France, Bordeaux is one of the country's largest wine-growing areas, covering over 125,000 hectares. With the Atlantic to the west, its coastal temperatures are moderated by the Gulf Stream, making it an ideal place for vines to thrive. The region produces a staggering 900 million bottles a year, ranging from large quantities of common Vin de Pays to some of the most prestigious and expensive wines in the world.

France's most flexible wine category, Vin de France sits below AOC and IGP with the fewest regulatory constraints. Producers can source grapes from anywhere in the country, blend across regions, and use grape varieties freely without geographic or local appellation restrictions. Crucially, it's the only category that permits stating the grape variety and vintage on the label without a regional appellation, with this freedom attracting quality-focused winemakers who want to experiment outside rigid AOC rules.