The Bordeaux region is quite possibly the most famous wine region in the world, combining terroir, climate and a dedication by the wine community to produce wines worthy of their reputation. Bordeaux is a large region on the Atlantic coast, best known for fabulous red wines, although their white wines have also gained global noteriety, most particularly for Sauternes from the likes of Chateau d’Yquem. Vineyards from Chateau Lafite, Chateau Latour, Chateau Mouton, Chateau Margaux, Chateau Haut Brion, Petrus, and countless others make this region a must see for any wine aficionado.

The Bordeaux Wine Trail is approximately 120 miles long and begins along the Atlantic Coast at Le Verdon Sur Mer and ends at Saint Emilion, passing through Pauillac, the city of Bordeaux and Sauternes among other small towns and vilages. While most tour books recommend spending at least 4 days in this region, it would be easy to extend this to a week or longer due to the abundance of superior quality wineries, vineyards, accomodations, restaurants and other tourist related options.  There are countless luxury inns, hotels, B&B’s, and winery lodgings, along with an incredible number of restaurants providing fine local cuisine from some of the top chefs in the world along this wine route. During the summer months, it is highly recommended that reservations be made well in advance.

The Bordeaux region is the second largest wine-growing area in the world with only the neighboring Languedoc wine region containing more vineyard acreage. The major reason for the success of winemaking in the Bordeaux region is the excellent environment. The limestone soil heavy in calcium and the addition of the Gironde estuary and its tributaries, the Garonne and the Dordogne rivers, that provide a ready source of irrigation as well as the Atlantic Ocean breezes give forth the optimal growing conditions.

The two rivers define the geographical subdivisions of the region with ”The right bank”, situated on the right bank of the Dordogne, in the northern parts of the region, around the city of Libourne, the “Entre-deux-mers” area, French for “between two waters” signifying the area between the rivers and “The left bank”, situated on the left bank of the Garonne river, in the west and south of the region, around the city of Bordeaux itself. The left bank is further subdivided into Graves, the area upstream of the city Bordeaux and Médoc, the area downstream of the city Bordeaux, situated on a peninsula between Gironde and the Atlantic.

There are only a handful of grapes that are permitted to be grown in Bordeaux to be used for Bordeaux wines. For red wines, these are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Carmenere. Most of the Bordeaux wines are a blend of at least two of these grapes, with Cabernet Sauvignon the most common with Cabernet Franc and Merlot coming in second and third place. White Bordeaux is primarily used for Sauternes, made from Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle grapes, with Ugni Blanc, Colombard, Merlot Blanc, Ondenc and Mauzac being used, albeit on a more sparingly basis.

When most wine drinkers think of Bordeaux, the five Bordeaux first growth vineyards quickly come to mind. These are made up of Château Lafite-Rothschild, in the appellation Pauillac; Château Margaux, in the appellation Margaux; Château Latour, in the appellation Pauillac; Château Haut-Brion, in the appellation Péssac-Legonan; and  Château Mouton Rothschild, in the appellation Pauillac, promoted from second to first growth in 1973. 

At the same time, the sweet white wines of Sauternes and Barsac were classified into three categories, with only Château d’Yquem being classified as a superior first growth. In 1955, St. Émilion AOC wasclassified into three categories, the highest being Premier Grand Cru Classé A with two members, Château Ausone and Château Cheval Blanc. There is no official classification applied to the Pomerol region, however some Pomerol wines, notably Château Pétrus and Château Le Pin, are often considered as being equivalent to the first growths of the 1855 classification, and often sell for even higher prices.

Please bare with us as we complete this portion of our site. If you have any suggestions for wine related tourism operators, please send me an email at rich@sunflowerwinetours.com