Bordeaux wine region French wine region guide: location, history, appellations, grapes & food
Bordeaux is the world's most famous fine-wine region, home to legendary châteaux, the 1855 Classification and elegant red blends of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, as well as great dry and sweet whites.
More info about the Bordeaux wine region
Geographic position
Southwestern France, in the Gironde department around the city of Bordeaux, along the Garonne and Dordogne rivers and the Gironde estuary, about 50 km from the Atlantic. Around 270,000 acres of vines make it France's largest fine-wine vineyard.
Origin & history
The Romans planted vines here in the 1st century. The marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine to Henry Plantagenet in 1152 placed Bordeaux under English rule for 300 years, and its "claret" became England's favourite wine. Merchants (négociants) and the 1855 Classification built its global prestige.
Main appellations & varieties
Left Bank (Médoc, Pauillac, Margaux, Saint-Julien, Saint-Estèphe, Pessac-Léognan, Graves) led by Cabernet Sauvignon; Right Bank (Saint-Émilion, Pomerol, Fronsac) led by Merlot and Cabernet Franc; Entre-Deux-Mers and Sauternes for whites from Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Muscadelle.
Food specialties
Entrecôte à la bordelaise, Pauillac lamb, Arcachon oysters with Sauvignon Blanc, cèpes mushrooms, lamprey stew and canelés, the little caramelised cakes of Bordeaux.
Bordeaux appellations
- Bordeaux
- Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux
- Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux
- Crémant de Bordeaux
- Côtes de Bourg
- Francs Côtes De Bordeaux
- Fronsac
- Graves
- Haut-Médoc
- IGP Atlantique
- Lalande-de-Pomerol
- Margaux
- Montagne Saint-Emilion
- Médoc
- Pauillac
- Pessac-Leognan
- Pomerol
- Saint-Emilion
- Saint-Estèphe
- Saint-Julien
- Sauternes
Main grape varieties of Bordeaux
Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Muscadelle, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon