There is a great deal of delicious French wine-you just need to know where to look since the name of the grape is not usually seen on the bottle. The French are firm believers in terroir, the idea that the land really makes the wine and that every village and district has its own distinctive climate and soil, and the grape is an expression of the land. So their wine labels are all about location. Look for certain locations of origin and you’ll be on your way to finding some favorites.

Savvy sippers in Europe have long known the power of pink-and it’s not the sweet stuff you may think of. The coastal Provence region is the heart of the world’s dry rosé production. Here, the rosé is mostly made from Grenache and Cinsault, though the local grape Tibouren can also produce some rosés with good character. Even within a single wine-producing region such as Provence, rosés will display a range of colors and flavors, but overall Provence rosés tend to be fresh, crisp, bright and dry.

Bordeaux reds are considered by many wine connoisseurs to be the world’s greatest, and are usually Cabernet Sauvignon- and Merlot-based blends. The white wine grape varietals are Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle, which produce dry wines that are aromatic and fruity and sweet wines that are rich, full flavored, round and concentrated. The hallmark of Bordeaux dry whites is a balanced flavor with a hint of oak. Some of the finest dry whites come from the Graves region, which stretches south from the historic city of Bordeaux on the left bank of the Gironde River. Entre-Deux-Mers-which means “between two seas”-also produces some crisp, dry whites. The famous dessert wine Sauternes hails from Bordeaux.

As the RhoÌ‚ne River carved a path through France, it left a beautiful valley whose steep hillsides provide the perfect perch for vineyards. As the country’s second-largest wine region in terms of size and production, the RhoÌ‚ne Valley makes many luscious red wines. The region can be separated into two geographic areas, the north and south. The main difference between the red wines is that those from the northern Rhône are made with Syrah, while Grenache is dominant in the wines of the south, though up to 13 grape varieties are often blended in, including Syrah. CoÌ‚tes du RhoÌ‚ne produces about 80 percent of the region’s wines, with the lion’s share made in the south. The reds blend mostly the same grapes as the famous ChaÌ‚teauneuf-du-Pape-a blend of up to 13 grape varieties including Grenache, Cinsaut, MourveÌ€dre, Syrah, Carignan and Gamay as well as white grapes such as Rousanne, Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc and Picardan may also be added-and offer a more cost-effective alternative.

After grilling on a gas grill, the shrimp have a great flavor like they were grilled on charcoal. This recipe is also great with scallops (use two skewers so scallops will not roll). The grilled shrimp and scallops are good by themselves, in pasta, in salads or fajitas.

4 skewers

4 cloves garlic kosher salt to taste

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined

¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste