Here we are in the world's largest winegrowing area, spread out along three
rivers, with more than
105,000 Ha (250,000 acres) and 53 appelations
and entirely within the Gironde department. There are over
3000
chateaux, of which 200 are famous.
In the North, the Médoc is one the great areas for red wine and its
village names resonate throughout the world of wine, Pauillac, Margaux, Listrac,
Moulis, Saint Julien, and Saint Est phe. South of Bordeaux, there are Graves
(Pessac Leognan) and sweet wines : estates produce the famous sweet wines
of Cerons, Sauternes and Basrac on the left bank of the river Garonne, while
on the right bank, Sainte Croix du Mont and Loupiac are to be found in an
enclave opposite the southern part of Graves, near Langon.
Semillon and sauvignon are the main varietals grown for white wines. They
grow best in geological conditions similar to that of the haut Médoc,
composed of gravel, sand, clay and marl; the climate is generally warm and
sunny. To these two main varietals are added muscadelle, merlot blanc (white
merlot) colombard, mauzac ondenc and saint émilion.
Between the Garonne and the Dordogne, Entre deux Mers (between two waters
or for classicists, Mesopotamia!), the largest Bordeaux region grows a wide
variety of different whites and reds (the latter from cabernet sauvignon,
cabernet franc, merlot and malbec) : Entre Deux Mers, Premiéres
Côtes de Bordeaux, Côtes de Bordeaux Saint Macaire, Saint Foy
de Bordeaux et Graves de Vayre.
On the other side of the Dordogne, and going towards the North, are to be
found wines where the merlot predominates. From the Libournais, to the Blayais,
Bourgeais, and Fronsac, passing through Pomerol and then the villages and
hillsides of Saint Emilion.
