France · AOCs
Bordeaux
The world's largest fine-wine region, built on blends and the Left/Right Bank divide.
Bordeaux is defined by water and gravel. The Gironde estuary and its two rivers split the region into a Left Bank of Cabernet Sauvignon on warm gravel and a Right Bank of Merlot on cool clay-limestone — blends, never single varieties. Beyond the famous châteaux lie great-value satellites and a quietly growing organic and natural-wine scene. ~110,000 ha.
Most of it is red blends.
ClimateMaritime/oceanic, moderated by the Atlantic and estuary
AltitudeSea Level-90 m
Grapes
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Côt (Malbec), Muscadelle
Soils
GravelClay-LimestoneClaySand
Bordeaux makes more AOC wine than any other French region.
Explore Bordeaux
Entre-Deux-MersFresh, dry whites from the rolling land between two rivers.
Rive Droite (Saint-Émilion & Pomerol, Libournais)Plush, Merlot-led reds on clay and limestone.
Rive Gauche (Médoc & Graves)Cabernet-led, structured, age-worthy reds on deep gravel.
Sauternes & BarsacGolden botrytised sweet wines born of autumn river mists.
