Bordeaux
(bor-doh) | Western France
Bordeaux is renowned for its wine, historic architecture, and cultural heritage, boasting the second-most monuments in France after Paris. It is also a modern and vibrant city, known for its university research, large student population, and being a strategic hub for the aeronautics, military, and space sector.
The Bordeaux wine region is the largest AOC in France, producing a wide range of wines, including red, white, rosé, sweet, and sparkling wines. It is second in production, only behind the Languedoc-Roussillon.
The region is nestled around the confluence of three rivers: the Garonne, the Dordogne, and their common estuary, the Gironde, which flows into the Atlantic. These rivers split the area into three typically recognized sections.
› The Left Bank (of the Garonne and the Gironde): Médoc, Graves
› The Right Bank (of the Dordogne and the Gironde): St-Émilion, Pomerol
› Entre-deux-Mers, or “between the seas” (between the fork of the Garonne and the Dordogne, south of the Gironde)
Bordeaux experiences a maritime climate influenced by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gironde estuary, which helps protect the vineyards from extreme weather. The climate shifts to more continental while moving east and more inland.
The region’s diverse soils, terroirs, and grape ripening times encourage the practice of assemblage, blending different grapes for complexity and insurance against weather challenges. The blend proportions vary, with Cabernet Sauvignon dominant on the Left Bank and Merlot and Cabernet Franc on the Right Bank. Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle are the primary varieties of Bordeaux white and sweet wines. Oak aging in 225-liter barrels is also a common practice.
The Left Bank, known for red wines, includes prestigious communal appellations and is recognized for its well-drained gravelly soils ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon.
The Right Bank has a long history predating the development of the Médoc region, known for Merlot-based blends being the home of highly-prized estates.
Viticulture in Bordeaux dates back to the 4th century, with significant development in the Médoc area by the Dutch in the 1600s. Bordeaux’s commercial wine success is partly due to its historical English ties and strategic trading position. The 18th-century emergence of a merchant class, including négociants and courtiers, played a key role, particularly in the en primeur sales system, where wines are sold while still in barrel providing early access and price advantage prior to their release to the market.
Modern Bordeaux features a contrast between the affluent, technologically-advanced estates and smaller, modest ones. It takes tenacity and courage to exist outside the tightly manicured and controlled world of the Bordeaux négociants and La Place de Bordeaux.
We are proud to represent independent producers/growers driven by authenticity and terroir with alternative perspectives.