Key Datas:
- Location: In the south west of France, near the Atlantic coast, around the city of Bordeaux
- Size of the vineyards: 120,000 hectares (300,000 acres)
- Vineyards: 13,000 wine growers (7,000 chateaux)
- Soil: Gravels coming from the Pyrénées mountains. Clayey-limestone and clay, sand, limestone
- Weather: Oceanic and temperate with short, mild winters, quite hot summers, long autumns and a high degree of humidity generated by the Atlantic Ocean
- Red Grapes in Bordeaux: Merlot (50% of Bordeaux vineyards), Cabernet Sauvignon (26%),Cabernet Franc (10%). Other red grapes in Bordeaux, very occasionally: Petit Verdot - Malbec – Carmenère
- White Grapes in Bordeaux: Sémillon (8% of Bordeaux wines), Sauvignon (4%). Other white grapes in Bordeaux, very occasionally: Muscadelle - Ugni blanc - Colombard - Folle blanche
- Production: 7 million hl or 850 million bottles.Red: 87%, dry white: 11%, sweet white: 2%. Bordeaux is 14% of French wine production, 27% of quality wine
Bordeaux is probably the most well-know wine region in France. Bordeaux counts for one third of the good quality french wine (AOC, crus bourgeois, crus classés).
The wines are so good there that a is needed to classify the best of the best. Some of them are universal: Margaux, Yquem, Cheval Blanc, Haut Brion and all the others. Bordeaux has about 7,000 chateaux !
Bordeaux is one of the most important wine producing regions in the world. One third of the good quality wine in France is coming from Bordeaux.
Wine production in Bordeaux :
Bordeaux is 57 appellations, about 7,000 wine-producing châteaux, and 13,000 wine growers. The large diversity of Bordeaux suggests an equal diversity of soil.
Wine Grapes in Bordeaux :
Most of the grapes grown in the Bordeaux region for red wine are Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc which give vigour, tannin and good keeping qualities, and Merlot which brings softness and suppleness. Merlot is the most planted grape in Bordeaux, covering 50% of the wine region (see chart below).
White wines are elaborated mostly from Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, and sometimes also with Muscadelle.
Appellations in Bordeaux :
The diversity of wine quality in the Médoc made it necessary to create a specific classification as follows: "crus paysans", "crus artisans", "crus bourgeois ordinaires", "crus bon bourgeois", "crus bourgeois supérieur" and "grands crus". They were then classified in five categories only.
At the Universal Exhibition of 1855 in Paris, the "Chambre Syndicale de Courtiers of Bordeaux" (Professional chamber of wine merchants in Bordeaux) distinguished 61 high quality wines. It is the consecration of a long established habit. The selling and purchasing has been based on this classification.
Grands Crus Bordeaux :
Grands crus classés are classified in five categories to distinguish even more the best of the best in Bordeaux :
Premier grands crus classés (First Great Growths)
Château Lafite-RothschildPauillac
Chäteau LatourPauillac
Château MargauxMargaux
Château Mouton-RothschildPauillac
Château Haut-BrionPessac
Deuxième grands crus classés (Second Great Growths)
Château Brane-CantenacCantenac-Margaux
Château Cos-d'EstournelSaint-Estèphe
Château Ducru-BeaucaillouSaint-Julien
Château Durfort-ViviensMargaux
Château Gruaud-LaroseSaint-Julien
Château LascombesMargaux
Château Léoville-BartonSaint-Julien
Château Léoville-Las-CasesSaint-Julien
Château Léoville-PoyferréSaint-Julien
Château MontroseSaint-Estèphe
Château Pichon-LalandePauillac
Château Pichon-Longueville BaronPauillac
Château Rausan-SéglaMargaux
Château Rauzan-GassiesMargaux
Troisième grands crus classés (Third Great Growths)
Château Boyd-CantenacCantenac-Margaux
Château Calon-SégurSaint-Estèphe
Château Cantenac-BrownCantenac-Margaux
Château DesmirailMargaux
Château FerrièreMargaux
Château GiscoursLabarde-Margaux
Château d'IssanCantenac-Margaux
Château KirwanCantenac-Margaux
Château LagrangeSaint-Julien
Château La LaguneLudon-Haut Médoc
Château Langoa-BartonSaint -Julien
Château Malescot-Saint-ExupéryMargaux
Château Marquis d'Alesme-BeckerMargaux
Château PalmerCantenac-Margaux
Quatrième grands crus classés (Fourth Great Growths)
Château BeychevelleSaint-Julien
Château Branaire-DucruSaint-Julien
Château Duhart-Milon-RothschildPauillac
Château La Tour-CarnetSaint-Laurent-Haut Médoc
Château Lafon-RochetSaint-Estèphe
Château Marquis-de-TermeMargaux
Château PougetCantenac-Margaux
Château Prieuré-LichineCantenac-Margaux
Château Saint-PierreSaint-Julien
Château TalbotSaint-Julien
Cinquième grands crus classés (Fifth Great Growths)
Château BatailleyPauillac
Château BelgraveSaint-Laurent-Haut Médoc
Château CamensacSaint-Laurent-Haut Médoc
Château CantermerleMacau-Haut Médoc
Château Clerc-MilonPauillac
Château Cos-LaborySaint-Estèphe
Château Croizet-BagesPauillac
Château DauzacLabarde-Margaux
Château Grand-Puy-DucassePauillac
Château Grand-Puy-LacostePauillac
Château Haut-Bages-LibéralPauillac
Château Haut-BatailleyPauillac
Château Lynch-BagesPauillac
Château Lynch-MoussasPauillac
Château Monton d'ArmailhacPauillac
Château PédesclauxPauillac
Château Pontet-CanetPauillac
Château du TertreArsac-Margaux
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