BORDEAUX
Country: France
Predominant grapes:
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Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
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Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle
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BORDEAUX
Bordeaux is for many the first encounter with great wine. The region's mythical origins trace back as a supplier of the first "true" red wines, initially to discerning, thirsty European neighbors and now to the rest of the world.
The region lies on the southern part of the French west coast, stretching inland with the banks of the river Gironde, where it divides into the rivers Garonne, Dordogne, and Isle.
The top wines of the region make up a modest 5% of the enormous total production of around 850 million bottles of wine each year. However, it is these top wines that have given the area its reputation and serve as a model for the majority of wine production worldwide, in terms of style and quality.
The region is divided into numerous areas, with the banks of the Gironde and Garonne being home to the Bas Médoc and Haut Médoc areas.
The southernmost area, Haut Médoc, which is closest to the city of Bordeaux, includes the prestigious municipal appellations Margaux, Listrac-Médoc, Moulis-en-Médoc, Saint Julien, Pauillac, and Saint Estèphe. In the eastern part, on the northern banks of the Dordogne River, lie the legendary areas of Saint Émilion and Pomerol.
AVAILABILITY BY GRAPE/BLEND
South of the city of Bordeaux is Pessac-Léognan, and if one continues along the banks of the Garonne, they arrive in the southernmost part of the region, where the sweet wine kings are produced in the Sauternes area. Bordeaux lies exactly halfway between the equator and the North Pole, creating perfect weather conditions for viticulture. Soil conditions vary significantly from area to area. The Médoc areas consist of sandy and gravelly deposits from the Pyrenees. Other areas are more clayey, and the gravelly soils of Pomerol produce different wines compared to the calcareous clay soils in the neighboring municipality of Saint Émilion.
Despite the diverse terroirs of the vast region, the wines share a common foundation in a limited number of grape varieties. The red varieties dominate with 85% of the cultivation areas. This proportion is increasing. Today, these grape varieties are among the most widely used globally and have gained their reputation from their performance in Bordeaux.
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are the major varieties. They are often balanced with Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Carménère. All the red grapes form the basis for Bordeaux's worldwide renown.
White Bordeaux wines are best known for Sémillon, which tends to noble rot, giving rise to the great, sweet Bordeaux wines. Furthermore, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle contribute to the white wines of Bordeaux. Welcome to Bordeaux!
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