Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux

The commune of Castillon-la-Bataille, which gave its name to the appellation, is located on the Dordogne River, about 40 kilometers east of Bordeaux. Its name recalls the famous battle that ended the Hundred Years' War in 1453, during which the leader of the English army, Talbot, was killed.

The region of Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux is an extension of the region of Saint-Émilion, Montagne and Puisseguin to the east. In this region, the establishment of the vineyard probably dates back to the Roman period, because there are stations, locations of villas and Gallo-Roman mosaics.

It is formed by hillsides which are the continuation of those of Saint-Émilionnais and go down towards the east. The altitude of some of them reaches and even exceeds one hundred meters, which offers very wide views of this region covered with vines where valleys with varied crops and wooded areas intersect. Ruins of windmills are also evidence of ancient grain cultivation. To the east and north-east of Castillon, the hillsides end steeply on the Dordogne and Lidoire valleys.

The region of Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux also benefits from a pleasant climate where the rigors of the winds and oceanic influences are mitigated. All of these conditions form a terroir favorable to the culture of the vine.

Since 1955, wines from this region have been eligible for the Bordeaux Controlled Designation of Origin - Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux or Bordeaux Supérieur - Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux. Aware of the originality and specificity of their wines, the winegrowers of this region asked the INAO for their own appellation. After many steps, the Syndicat Viticole des Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux obtained the recognition and the concretization of their efforts by the creation of the AOC Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux for the communes of Belvès-de-Castillon, Castillon-la-Bataille and Saint-Magne-de-Castillon by the decree of February 9, 1989 and by the decree of July 11, 1989 for the communes of Gardegan-et-Tourtirac, Monbadon, Saint-Genès-de-Castillon, Saint-Philippe-d'Aiguilhe, Sainte-Colombe and Les Salles.

In 2008, the recognition of a new Controlled Designation of Origin Côtes de Bordeaux and its denominations born of the union of the wine regions of Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux, Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux, Francs Côtes de Bordeaux.

To the south, along the Dordogne River, the soil is made up of very fertile modern alluvium. Moving northwards, we find sandy-gravelly or sandy-clay soils which become clayey-limestone or marly as soon as we reach the hillsides. In the valleys, they are clayey or sandy-clayey. Along the Dordogne, the subsoil is gravelly. It is made up of marl, more or less sandy molasses, then limestone, as one moves towards the north of the region. In some communes, there are still quarries with rubble.

The region of Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux also benefits from a pleasant climate where the rigors of the winds and oceanic influences are mitigated. All of these conditions form a terroir favorable to the culture of the vine.