Dr. Map from the UC Santa Barbara Geography Department recently came across the extraordinary Metro Wine Map, designed by architectural historian and wine buff, Dr. David Gissen.” This map covers the French wine districts, and the “appellations.”

“The twist is that the map uses the technique pioneered by Harry Beck in the 1930s for the London underground map. Wine districts are colored “lines,” with branches showing the different appellations. One can clearly see, for example the link between Pouilly-Fumé and Vouvray, both from the Loire Valley, but with the former made from the Sauvignon Blanc grape variety and the latter Chenin Blanc.”