Bordeaux

This appellation stretches as a band four to five kilometres wide from the city limits of Bordeaux over a distance of 60 kilometres in a south-ewasterly direction towards Cadillac. The 37 communes in the region may append their name to that of the appellation. The Romans grew vines in this region, which established the fame of Bordeaux long before those of the Médoc were known. It lies in the western section of the largest region, Entre-Deux-Mers. The vineyard area totals around 3.700 hectares, the soils are gravelly and rich in limestone, the vineyards are located on the right bank of the Garonne river. In the early 1980’s, the vineyard area was split approximately equally between white and red varieties, but today white varieties account for only around 600 hectares. The alluvial soils directly on the river banks are classified only as simple appellation Bordeaux. The appellation is for dry red wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Carmenère, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot, as well as for sweet white wines (dry whites have not been permitted since 1981) made from Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. Well-known estates include Château Birot, Château Carignan, Château Carsin, Château Fayau, Château du Grand Mouëys, Château Laurétan, Château Lezongars, Château Plaisance, Château Puy Bardens, Château Reynon and Château Tanesse. The following appellations are enclaves in the southern section of the region: Cadillac, Côtes de Bordeaux Saint-Macaire, Loupiac and Sainte-Croix-du-Mont.