Bordeaux
rouge • blanc • rose • 63224 ha
The Bordeaux Controlled Designation of Origin is one of the most important in the Bordeaux wine region and is the largest French AOC in terms of surface area and volume.
Because of its size, the Bordeaux vineyards are planted on a wide variety of soils:
- clay-limestone and marl-limestone soils, which are widespread on the slopes of the hillsides (Saint-Émilion, Fronsac, Entre-deux-Mers regions, etc.);
- siliceous soils mixed with clay and calcareous elements which, when well amended, are suitable for vines;
- boulbènes with excessively fine siliceous elements which make the soils "beating", difficult to work and asphyxiating even for the vine (part of the Entre-deux-Mers plateaus);
- the "terres de palus", lands of recent alluvium, rich, deep and fatty which occupy the bottom of the valleys;
- gravelly soils, composed of gravel, rolled quartz and coarse sand, particularly favorable to the vine.
These last two types of soils constitute one of the original characteristics of the Bordeaux terroir. The wines produced from these soils have always contributed to the reputation of Bordeaux wines.
Bordeaux Controlled Designation of Origin wines are the result of judicious planting of selected grape varieties, each with its own characteristics. Depending on the type of wine desired, the winegrower uses them in varying proportions.
We remind you that there is nothing to prevent the production in Gironde of a wine made exclusively from one of the main grape varieties: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet-Sauvignon, Carmenère, Merlot, Côt or Malbec, and Petit Verdot for red wines; Semillon, Sauvignon and Muscadelle for white wines, because if the specifications indicate the percentage of accessory grape varieties not to be exceeded, they do not limit the percentage of the main grape varieties.
Bordeaux wines are therefore produced in very diverse regions that have practically nothing in common with each other, except for the cultivation of the vine and the men who all share the same passion: to make good and successful wine.
There was a time when vines were cultivated in "joualles", that is to say that one or sometimes two rows of vines were separated from their close neighbor by 6, 8, 10 meters of another crop (wheat, corn, potatoe, etc). This method of exploitation, which disappeared in the 19th century, explains in part the gains in production obtained throughout the 20th century. The vine today is therefore cultivated in "full" with variable spacing, often similar to those used in neighboring AOC areas.
Grape varieties
Red grape varieties: 6
Main
- Merlot
- Cabernet franc
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Malbec
- Petit Verdot
- Carmenère
White grape varieties: 7
Main
- Sémillon
- Sauvignon gris
- Sauvignon
- Muscadelle
Secondary
- Colombard
- Merlot blanc
- Ugni
Geographical areas and zones
Geographical area — 498 communes
- Abzac
- Aillas
- Ambarès-et-Lagrave
- Ambès
- Anglade
- Arbanats
- Arcins
- Arsac
- Artigues-près-Bordeaux
- Arveyres
- Asques
- Aubiac
- Aubie-et-Espessas
- Auriolles
- Auros
- Avensan
- Ayguemorte-les-Graves
- Bagas
- Baigneaux
- Barie
- Baron
- Barsac
- Bassanne
- Bassens
- Baurech
- Bayas
- Bayon-sur-Gironde
- Bazas
- Beautiran
- Bellebat
- Bellefond
- Belvès-de-Castillon
- Bernos-Beaulac
- Berson
- Berthez
- Beychac-et-Caillau
- Bieujac
- Birac
- Blaignac
- Blaignan
- Blanquefort
- Blasimon
- Blaye
- Blésignac
- Bommes
- Bonnetan
- Bonzac
- Bordeaux
- Bossugan
- Bouliac
- Bourdelles
- Bourg
- Branne
- Brannens
- Braud-et-Saint-Louis
- Brouqueyran
- Bruges
- Budos
- Bègles
- Bégadan
- Béguey
- Cantois
- Cabanac-et-Villagrains
- Cabara
- Cadarsac
- Cadaujac
- Cadillac
- Cadillac-en-Fronsadais
- Camarsac
- Cambes
- Camblanes-et-Meynac
- Camiac-et-Saint-Denis
- Camiran
- Camps-sur-l'Isle
- Campugnan
- Canéjan
- Capian
- Caplong
- Carbon-Blanc
- Cardan
- Carignan-de-Bordeaux
- Cars
- Cartelègue
- Casseuil
- Castelmoron-d'Albret
- Castelnau-de-Médoc
- Castelviel
- Castillon-de-Castets
- Castillon-la-Bataille
- Castres-Gironde
- Caudrot
- Caumont
- Cauvignac
- Cavignac
- Cazats
- Cazaugitat
- Cenon
- Cessac
- Cestas
- Chamadelle
- Cissac-Médoc
- Civrac-de-Blaye
- Civrac-en-Médoc
- Civrac-sur-Dordogne
- Cleyrac
- Coimères
- Coirac
- Comps
- Coubeyrac
- Couquèques
- Courpiac
- Cours-de-Monségur
- Cours-les-Bains
- Coutras
- Coutures
- Croignon
- Créon
- Cubnezais
- Cubzac-les-Ponts
- Cudos
- Cursan
- Cussac-Fort-Médoc
- Cénac
- Cérons
- Cézac
- Daignac
- Dardenac
- Daubèze
- Dieulivol
- Donnezac
- Donzac
- Doulezon
- Escoussans
- Espiet
- Étauliers
- Eynesse
- Eyrans
- Eysines
- Faleyras
- Fargues
- Fargues-Saint-Hilaire
- Flaujagues
- Floirac
- Floudès
- Fontet
- Fossès-et-Baleyssac
- Fours
- Francs
- Fronsac
- Frontenac
- Gabarnac
- Gaillan-en-Médoc
- Gajac
- Galgon
- Gans
- Gardegan-et-Tourtirac
- Gauriac
- Gauriaguet
- Gensac
- Gironde-sur-Dropt
- Gornac
- Gours
- Gradignan
- Grayan-et-l'Hôpital
- Grignols
- Grézillac
- Guillac
- Guillos
- Guîtres
- Génissac
- Générac
- Haux
- Hure
- Illats
- Isle-Saint-Georges
- Izon
- Jau-Dignac-et-Loirac
- Jugazan
- Juillac
- La Brède
- La Lande-de-Fronsac
- La Rivière
- La Roquille
- La Réole
- La Sauve
- Labarde
- Labescau
- Ladaux
- Lados
- Lagorce
- Lalande-de-Pomerol
- Lamarque
- Lamothe-Landerron
- Landerrouat
- Landerrouet-sur-Ségur
- Landiras
- Langoiran
- Langon
- Lansac
- Lapouyade
- Laroque
- Laruscade
- Latresne
- Lavazan
- Le Bouscat
- Le Fieu
- Le Haillan
- Le Nizan
- Le Pian-Médoc
- Le Pian-sur-Garonne
- Le Pout
- Le Puy
- Le Taillan-Médoc
- Le Tourne
- Le Verdon-sur-Mer
- Les Artigues-de-Lussac
- Les Billaux
- Les Esseintes
- Les Lèves-et-Thoumeyragues
- Les Peintures
- Les Salles-de-Castillon
- Les Salles-de-Castillon
- Les Églisottes-et-Chalaures
- Lesparre-Médoc
- Lestiac-sur-Garonne
- Libourne
- Lignan-de-Bazas
- Lignan-de-Bordeaux
- Ligueux
- Listrac-Médoc
- Listrac-de-Durèze
- Lormont
- Loubens
- Loupes
- Loupiac
- Loupiac-de-la-Réole
- Ludon-Médoc
- Lugaignac
- Lugasson
- Lugon-et-l'Île-du-Carnay
- Lussac
- Léogeats
- Léognan
- Macau
- Madirac
- Maransin
- Marcenais
- Marcillac
- Margaux-Cantenac
- Margueron
- Marimbault
- Marions
- Marsas
- Martignas-sur-Jalle
- Martillac
- Martres
- Masseilles
- Massugas
- Mauriac
- Mazion
- Mazères
- Mesterrieux
- Mombrier
- Mongauzy
- Monprimblanc
- Monségur
- Montagne
- Montagoudin
- Montignac
- Montussan
- Morizès
- Mouillac
- Mouliets-et-Villemartin
- Moulis-en-Médoc
- Moulon
- Mourens
- Mérignac
- Mérignas
- Naujac-sur-Mer
- Naujan-et-Postiac
- Neuffons
- Noaillac
- Noaillan
- Néac
- Nérigean
- Omet
- Ordonnac
- PRIGNAC EN MEDOC
- Paillet
- Parempuyre
- Pauillac
- Pellegrue
- Pessac
- Pessac-sur-Dordogne
- Petit-Palais-et-Cornemps
- Peujard
- Pineuilh
- Plassac
- Pleine-Selve
- Podensac
- Pomerol
- Pompignac
- Pompéjac
- Pondaurat
- Porchères
- Porte-de-Benauge
- Portets
- Preignac
- Prignac-et-Marcamps
- Préchac
- Pugnac
- Puisseguin
- Pujols
- Pujols-sur-Ciron
- Puybarban
- Puynormand
- Périssac
- Queyrac
- Quinsac
- Rauzan
- Reignac
- Rimons
- Riocaud
- Rions
- Roaillan
- Romagne
- Roquebrune
- Ruch
- Sablons
- Sadirac
- Saillans
- Saint-Aignan
- Saint-Androny
- Saint-André-de-Cubzac
- Saint-André-du-Bois
- Saint-André-et-Appelles
- Saint-Antoine-du-Queyret
- Saint-Antoine-sur-l'Isle
- Saint-Aubin-de-Blaye
- Saint-Aubin-de-Branne
- Saint-Aubin-de-Médoc
- Saint-Avit-Saint-Nazaire
- Saint-Avit-de-Soulège
- Saint-Brice
- Saint-Caprais-de-Blaye
- Saint-Caprais-de-Bordeaux
- Saint-Christoly-Médoc
- Saint-Christoly-de-Blaye
- Saint-Christophe-de-Double
- Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes
- Saint-Cibard
- Saint-Ciers-d'Abzac
- Saint-Ciers-de-Canesse
- Saint-Ciers-sur-Gironde
- Saint-Côme
- Saint-Denis-de-Pile
- Saint-Estèphe
- Saint-Exupéry
- Saint-Ferme
- Saint-Félix-de-Foncaude
- Saint-Genis-du-Bois
- Saint-Genès-de-Blaye
- Saint-Genès-de-Castillon
- Saint-Genès-de-Fronsac
- Saint-Genès-de-Lombaud
- Saint-Germain-d'Esteuil
- Saint-Germain-de-Grave
- Saint-Germain-de-la-Rivière
- Saint-Germain-du-Puch
- Saint-Gervais
- Saint-Girons-d'Aiguevives
- Saint-Hilaire-de-la-Noaille
- Saint-Hilaire-du-Bois
- Saint-Hippolyte
- Saint-Jean-d'Illac
- Saint-Jean-de-Blaignac
- Saint-Julien-Beychevelle
- Saint-Laurent-Médoc
- Saint-Laurent-d'Arce
- Saint-Laurent-des-Combes
- Saint-Laurent-du-Bois
- Saint-Laurent-du-Plan
- Saint-Loubert
- Saint-Loubès
- Saint-Louis-de-Montferrand
- Saint-Léon
- Saint-Macaire
- Saint-Magne-de-Castillon
- Saint-Maixant
- Saint-Mariens
- Saint-Martial
- Saint-Martin-Lacaussade
- Saint-Martin-de-Laye
- Saint-Martin-de-Lerm
- Saint-Martin-de-Sescas
- Saint-Martin-du-Bois
- Saint-Martin-du-Puy
- Saint-Michel-de-Fronsac
- Saint-Michel-de-Lapujade
- Saint-Michel-de-Rieufret
- Saint-Morillon
- Saint-Médard-d'Eyrans
- Saint-Médard-de-Guizières
- Saint-Médard-en-Jalles
- Saint-Palais
- Saint-Pardon-de-Conques
- Saint-Paul
- Saint-Pey-d'Armens
- Saint-Pey-de-Castets
- Saint-Philippe-d'Aiguille
- Saint-Philippe-du-Seignal
- Saint-Pierre-d'Aurillac
- Saint-Pierre-de-Bat
- Saint-Pierre-de-Mons
- Saint-Quentin-de-Baron
- Saint-Quentin-de-Caplong
- Saint-Romain-la-Virvée
- Saint-Sauveur
- Saint-Sauveur-de-Puynormand
- Saint-Savin
- Saint-Selve
- Saint-Seurin-de-Bourg
- Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne
- Saint-Seurin-de-Cursac
- Saint-Seurin-sur-l'Isle
- Saint-Sulpice-de-Faleyrens
- Saint-Sulpice-de-Guilleragues
- Saint-Sulpice-de-Pommiers
- Saint-Sulpice-et-Cameyrac
- Saint-Sève
- Saint-Trojan
- Saint-Vincent-de-Paul
- Saint-Vincent-de-Pertignas
- Saint-Vivien-de-Blaye
- Saint-Vivien-de-Monségur
- Saint-Vivien-de-Médoc
- Saint-Yzan-de-Soudiac
- Saint-Yzans-de-Médoc
- Saint-Émilion
- Saint-Étienne-de-Lisse
- Sainte-Colombe
- Sainte-Croix-du-Mont
- Sainte-Eulalie
- Sainte-Florence
- Sainte-Foy-la-Grande
- Sainte-Foy-la-Longue
- Sainte-Gemme
- Sainte-Hélène
- Sainte-Radegonde
- Sainte-Terre
- Salaunes
- Sallebœuf
- Samonac
- Saucats
- Saugon
- Sauternes
- Sauveterre-de-Guyenne
- Sauviac
- Savignac
- Savignac-de-l'Isle
- Semens
- Sendets
- Sigalens
- Sillas
- Soulac-sur-Mer
- Soulignac
- Soussac
- Soussans
- Tabanac
- Taillecavat
- Talais
- Talence
- Targon
- Tarnès
- Tauriac
- Tayac
- Teuillac
- Tizac-de-Curton
- Tizac-de-Lapouyade
- Toulenne
- Tresses
- Uzeste
- Valeyrac
- Vayres
- Vendays-Montalivet
- Vensac
- Verdelais
- Vertheuil
- Vignonet
- Villandraut
- Villegouge
- Villenave-d'Ornon
- Villenave-de-Rions
- Villeneuve
- Virelade
- Virsac
- Vérac
- Yvrac
Immediate proximity area — 23 communes
- Port-Sainte-Foy-et-Ponchapt
- Fougueyrolles
- Loubès-Bernac
- Sainte-Colombe-de-Duras
- Baleyssagues
- Beaupuy
- Duras
- Villeneuve-de-Duras
- Le Fleix
- Saussignac
- Savignac-de-Duras
- Pomport
- Minzac
- Saint-Seurin-de-Prats
- Villefranche-de-Lonchat
- Lagupie
- Esclottes
- Razac-de-Saussignac
- Gageac-et-Rouillac
- Thénac
- Gardonne
- Cocumont
- Saint-Antoine-de-Breuilh
Rouge sec
Tasting & service
- Aromas of cerise noire
- Aromas of cerise rouge
- Aromas of framboise
- Aromas of fraise
- Aromas of groseille
- Aromas of myrtille
- Aromas of mûre
- Aromas of rose
- Aromas of violette
- Aromas of narcisse
- Aromas of clou de girofle
- Aromas of baie de genièvre
- Aromas of baume
Nose intensity
Palate intensity
Serving temperature
15 °C
Attack
clean, well-defined
Acidity
lively
Length
medium
Average ageing potential
5 years
About the wines
The red Bordeaux wines appeal to all lovers of easy-drinking wines; their range of aromas and flavors makes them wines to be approached without any complex. They are supple, fruity and sometimes full-bodied, depending on the vintage. Red Bordeaux wines can be drunk young, and gain in charm and roundness with age. They are always welcome wines, which are not "high-spirited" and express the generosity of the Gironde.
Rosé sec
Tasting & service
- Aromas of pivoine
- Aromas of rose
- Aromas of citron
- Aromas of pamplemousse
Nose intensity
Palate intensity
Serving temperature
9 °C
Attack
clean, well-defined
Acidity
fresh
Length
medium
Average ageing potential
2 years
About the wines
Bordeaux rosé is distinguished by its light pink color. It is vinified like white Bordeaux. They are light and fresh wines, which can be drunk relatively young. In the mouth, the red fruit aromas are intense with floral notes.
Blanc sec
Tasting & service
- Aromas of poire
- Aromas of pêche
- Aromas of pamplemousse
- Aromas of citron
- Aromas of fleur blanche
- Aromas of chèvrefeuille
Nose intensity
Palate intensity
Serving temperature
9 °C
Attack
clean, well-defined
Acidity
fresh
Length
medium
Average ageing potential
2 years
About the wines
Dry white Bordeaux wines contain less than 4 grams of residual sugar per liter. Generally lightly colored, they are dry and well-balanced with strength and a nice roundness and present delicate notes of yellow fruits and floral notes without excess. Their natural freshness gives them a nervousness that is perfect for seafood.