Probably wine The best known in the world Thanks to its classified wines, Bordeaux is the largest name vineyard in France.
It is organized around three river axes that are the Garonne, the Dordogne and their common estuary, the Gironde.
Red wines are largely in the majority and most often from the assembly of Several grape varieties: Merlot and Cabernets Franc and Sauvignon for the Reds, Sémillon, Sauvignon and Muscadelle for whites.
There are two main areas there: firstly the left bank of the Garonne and the Gironde where we find the Graves and the Médoc as well as the vineyards of sweet wines and second in the right bank, of the Dordogne and the Gironde, Country of Libournais, Bourgeais and Blayais.
The Bordeaux vineyard covers around 117,000 hectares and there are some Fifty-seven vintages varied and renowned. Another important asset of this wine region, its ancestral heritage and its remarkable architecture.
The names of Bordeaux wines.
There are many names in Bordeaux. We can still divide them into six large families.
The superior Bordeaux and Bordeaux Reds that can be cultivated throughout the Gironde department, which leaves the possibility of finding a wide variety due to the use of grape varieties, differences in terroirs and microclimates. The Red Bordeaux represent almost half of the production of the region.
The Côtes-de-Bordeaux, including LAOC was created in 2008 to bring together under a unique name a very large mosaic of small appellations. The terroirs are varied, line the straight banks of the Garonne and the Dordogne and the grape varieties is predominantly of Merlot.
The Saint-Émilion, Pomerol, Fronsac histo the east of the region, on the right bank of the Dordogne. This area, exclusively dedicated to red wines, has terroirs particularly recognized for their great vintages. Merlot is the main grape variety, most often associated with Cabernet Franc. Make absolutely a visit to Saint-Émilion, an essential historic village and listed as UNESCO's heritage.
Médoc and Graves Cover an area of around 20,000 hectares on the left bank of the two rivers. They represent 17 % of the region's vineyard, this is the main part of the great classified vintages. The Médoc forms a peninsula between the Atlantic and the estuary. It is in these names that you find the best known wines like Margaux, Pauillac, Saint-Estèphe, Saint-Julien or Moulis to name a few.
Dry White Bordeaux occupy a significant part of regional production. Entre-deux-Mers, Blaye-Côtes de Bordeaux or Pessac-Léognan, each of its twelve names has its own characteristics. The Sémillon occupies 55 % of the vineyard then, comes just behind the Sauvignon and finally the Muscadelle in much smaller game.
The soft and sweet not They represent that 3 % of Bordeaux production, but are exceptional wines. Sauternes, Cadillac, Loupiac, Sainte Croix du Mont or Barsac, these soft and sweets owe their high quality to the microclimate from which this terroir benefits.
On each bank of the Garonne, the days are hot and sunny and the nights fresh and humid. The grapes are harvested when the noble rot has formed on its grains and concentrated the sugar. The grape varieties is mainly made up of Sémillon, followed by Sauvignon and the Muscadelle.
Discovering Bordeaux wines.
In the Médoc, the Wine Route extends from northern Bordeaux to around eighty kilometers to reach the tip of Grave. This is the region where we find Many Grands Crus Classified Like Pauillac, Saint-Estèphe, Saint-Julien, Margaux, Moulis or Listrac-Médoc.
Along the estuary, on the road to the hillsides, this wine path leads you to the Breyais and the Bourgeais.
By following the heritage route, you will discover world -known vineyards as well as Classified villages, Pomerol and Saint-Emilion in mind.
The Bastides Route, a region of Entre-Deux-Mers, between Dordogne and Garonne, with its red, rosés and clear wines, also allows you to visit Romanesque castles and churches. To See also, Cadillac and Loupiac.
The Graves route takes you to the doors of the Landes region. There are reds, whites and sweet wines. The most that famous Sauternes is undoubtedly The most beautiful flagship in the region.
Two routes in Bordeaux.
It is sometimes difficult to choose one route more than another. That said, by choosing the castle route and that of the heritage, you leave, on the one hand, to The discovery of the great vintages, and on the other, you will be captivated by what perhaps the mixture Human landscapes and genius, prime contractor of more than remarkable architecture.
Take the Châteaux and Grands Crus route from Bordeaux along the Garonne estuary and take advantage of visiting Agassac and its superb castle, Margaux, Pauillac and its house of wine and tourism. Château Mouton Rothschild, Château Lafite-Rothschild, Saint-Estèphe and Moulis will accompany you on the return road to advantageously complement your trip.
The heritage route, on the other hand, leads you to Saint-Emilion, about forty kilometers east of Bordeaux. This magnificent village Valuing the detour alone and taking the time of a complete visit. Church, hermitage, chapel, collegial, cloister of the Cordeliers and of course the wine house, so many sites all essential to visit. Four first classified vintages are to be discovered in Saint-Emilion: Château Ausone, Château Cheval-Blanc, Château Pavie and Château Angélus.
