Bordeaux by Region

Bordeaux is the largest fine wine-making region in the world (with 284,320 acres of A.O.C. vines) as well as the most legendary. Its reputation is built mostly on red wines (known by the British as claret), especially those from the Médoc, Saint- Émillon and Pomerol. Bordeaux doesn’t just mean reds, the region also produces a wide range of other excellent wines, including sweet whites from the famous Sauternes region, rosé and clairet, and a sparkling wine called Crémant de Bordeaux. The region is dominated by the city of Bordeaux and two rivers, the Garonne and Dordogne, which merge to form the Gironde, which then flows out into the Atlantic Ocean.

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Bordeaux by area:

The vineyards can be divided into six key areas, roughly corresponding to geographical areas and styles of wines

Médoc and Graves:

on the left bank of the Garonne River and the Gironde estuary. The Médoc is synonymous with red wines dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon grapes whose vines thrive in the gravelly soil. In addition to reds,

Pessac-Léognan

and

Graves

also produce famed white wines.

Saint-Émilion:

and its surrounding villages, Pomerol and Fronsac, are on the right bank of the Dordogne river near the town of Libourne. This region produces mainly Merlot-based red wines.

The Côtes de Bordeaux:

vineyards (their name comes from the hillsides along the right banks of the Garonne and the Dordogne rivers) are spread across the entire region, producing red and white wines.

Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur:

can be red, white or even rosé and are produced throughout the Bordeaux region. This is the largest of the families and the diverse personality of these wines depends on the different soils and growing conditions.

Elegant dry whites are produced in the rolling

Entre-deux-Mers

, literally "between the two tidal seas." This area is also a source of good regional (Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur) reds.

Golden sweet white wines, famous throughout the world, are only produced in a very small part of the southern Bordeaux region, mainly in

Sauternes and Barsac

Bordeaux by variety:

Red Wines of Bordeaux

The red wines of Bordeaux are a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc grape varieties.

Cabernet Sauvignon – has a deep red colour and a strong tannic structure. Its flavours take more time to mature but develop into blackcurrant and black cherry, with hints of cedar wood, cigars and mint.
Merlot – gives colour and richness to the alcohol. It’s a softer grape producing succulent, juicy wines with aromas of ripe, red fruit.
Cabernet Franc – is lighter bodied adding soft gentleness and fresh summer pudding aromas of red fruits.

White Wines of Bordeaux

The white wines of Bordeaux are a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon grape varieties.

Sauvignon Blanc – provides good acidity and sugar. It has huge aromatic potential ranging from grassy notes to citrus and exotic fruits.
Sémillon – is identifiable by aromas of apricots and peaches. It produces rich, soft and slightly oily wines, ideal for making dessert wines. Contrary to popular thought, not every bottle of Bordeaux needs to be stored for 15 or 20 years in a cool damp cellar. The vast majority of all Bordeaux wines, red or white, are meant to be enjoyed young, straight from the shop, when the unique qualities of freshness, liveliness and digestibility are most evident.