Lorraine is a region in north-east France whose capital city is Nancy. It borders Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. Once flourishing, with 30,000ha of vines in 1890 (Guide Hachette des Vins 2004, p.133) it then declined, suffering phylloxera (which caused low quality hybrids to be introduced), the 1907 ‘crise viticole’, proximity to the First World War battlefields, industrialisation, and rural depopulation (Guide Hachette des Vins 2004, p.133). From the 1950s its modern renaissance began with the creation of what are now the region’s two AOCs, Côtes de Toul AOC and Moselle AOC.

Wine production & vineyard area: 1890 Over 30,000ha (Guide Hachette des Vins 2004, p.133).