In the world of wine, who wouldn’t want to get lost in France?

The wine capital of the world, if you never left French soil, you’d still have enough styles, varieties, regions and vast swathes of sun-drenched vineyards to quench the thirst of an emperor.

Indeed, when it comes to top drops, France has it all.

Ready to set sail? Today, our wine journey takes us from the chalky soils of Champagne to the sunny Languedoc, and some must-try favourites along the way…

1. Champagne Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2013, France, £55, Clos 19

Quite possibly France’s greatest export, champagne is the wine of celebration, and Moët & Chandon the champagne that’s been making headlines since 1743. Their 75th Grand Vintage 2013 is an extra brut champagne (dry and low in sugar) and stands out for its beautifully aromatic bouquet, with autumnal notes of ripe apples and pears, roasted chestnuts, honey and nectar leading to an irresistibly energetic, fruity palate, with an enticing hint of grapefruit on the finish. Magnifique.

2. Bouvet Ladubay Saphir 2018, Brut, Saumur, France, £13.63, Lay & Wheeler

Heading south west of Paris, the sparkling wines of Saumur highlight affordable, world-class fizz from the picturesque Loire Valley, and Bouvet Ladubay turn out some of the best. This sublime sparkler is dry, fruity and refreshing, with a creamy texture, gentle aromas of baked apple with nice citrusy notes, and good concentration of orchard fruits. Stylish and so easy to enjoy.

3. The Wine Society Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie, Château L’Oiselinière de la Ramée, Chéreau-Carré 2018, France, £8.50, The Wine Society

Sculpted by the cool sea breezes of the Atlantic Ocean at the most westerly end of the Loire Valley, Muscadet is the seafood-loving lunchtime white to remind us how France’s largest white wine appellation flies under the radar – but shouldn’t pass us by. Made from the Melon de Bourgogne grape, look out for Sèvre-et-Maine on the label (by far the most important area) and with its ‘extra stone-fruited pleasure’ and fresh, minerally finish, The Wine Society’s own label ticks all the right boxes. A natural bedfellow with oysters.

4. Louis Latour Pouilly-Vinzelles En Paradis Burgundy 2018, £22.99, Flagship Wines

A beautiful Burgundy blonde, the Côte De Beaune blesses us with some of the most captivating chardonnays in the world, and this famous label turns out whites of quality and character. A sleek chard that charms with its exotic stone fruit aromas, lovely, weighty core of pineapple and apricots, with a brioche richness and pure, long lasting finish. Impressive from the first to last drop, it gives an idea of the power and concentration of Louis Latour’s grand crus.

5. Château Barreyres Haut-Médoc 2017, Bordeaux, France, £13, Sainsbury’s

Famous for its standout reds, if France is the wine capital of the world, then Bordeaux is the epicentre for greatness. From best-value basics to top-tier First Growths, while the truly great grand cru wines with a splendid château on the label cost a king’s ransom, they represent a tiny minority. The vast majority are easily within reach – such as this extremely well priced, polished gem from the Left Bank. With fragrant aromatics, bags of plush, dark ripe fruits, cassis, violet, touch of cedar, good body and harmonious finish, it’s totally approachable and very enjoyable.

6. Famille Perrin Close Encounters Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2018, France, £20, Co-op stores

Give it up to the Co-op, who’ve collaborated with the Perrin family, owners of Château de Beaucastel and its celebrated Châteauneuf-du-Pape, to release this exciting and exclusive CdP. A blend of the three principal Rhône varietals – grenache, syrah and mourvèdre, Co-op says the story behind the label pays homage to Randall Grahm, who, back in 1984, was himself paying homage to the wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape when he released his now-legendary blend of Rhône varietals called ‘Le Cigare Volant’ – meaning ‘flying cigar’, or French slang for UFOs. Today, all you need to know is the wine’s stunning; a rhapsody of silky black fruits with a herbaceous, sweet spicy note and lustrous, long finish.

7. Minuty Prestige Rosé 2020, Côtes de Provence, France, £22.95, Secret Bottle Shop

A superstar from Saint Tropez, Chateau Minuty hails from the scenic village of Gassin, perched high above the Saint Tropez peninsula – and one of the few estates to be distinguished as a Cru Classé in the Côtes de Provence appellation. A pale salmon pink with beguiling notes of blossom and white peach, flavours of red berries, peaches and touch of citrus charm, plus a lovely silky, textured palate, saline minerality and straight down the line gorgeousness.

8. TTD Languedoc Red 2019, France, £7.50, Sainsbury’s

The country’s largest wine producing region, the sun-kissed Languedoc-Roussillon stretches from Provence to the Pyrénées and is widely recognised as producing France’s most competitively priced wines. With a whole bunch of varieties to choose from, we’ve singled out this crowd-pleasing fruity bomb by leading producer Jean-Claude Mas (Domaines Paul Mas produce a range of flagship wines, as well as supermarket own labels), which displays his deft touch for creating lip-smacking reds. Big on flavour in a New World style, it punches well above its weight.