When you think of wine, what comes to mind? Likely, it will conjure names like cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, and chardonnay — all unmistakably French. With the majority of classic wines sporting such names, it would not be surprising if you were to conclude that France is the largest producer of wine in the world; however, you would be mistaken. The real heavyweight when it comes to wine production is actually Italy.

You may wonder how this is possible when so much wine comes from French grape varietals like the ones listed above. The truth is that the varietal of a grape doesn't always determine the location in which those grapes are grown. For example, a Merlot grape can be grown in the Italian countryside, and the wine will still be called a Merlot. As such, a large quantity of French grapes — and therefore, French wines — are actually produced in Italy, not France.