Bordeaux is a port city in Southwestern France. It sits on the banks of the Gironde River. Its canals link the city to the Mediterranean Sea to the west and to the east it divides into two smaller tributaries called Dordogne & Garonne. These two rivers create one of the most famous wine regions in the World and the most important in France. The rivers bring rocks, gravel and other important soils to create a unique topography, very well suited for superb wine growth. The region’s climate is considered maritime/temperate, not quite Mediterranean because it rains quite a lot during certain months.

Bordeaux produces 12% of the world’s Premium Wines. Most of the wines produces here are blends. The city is divided into left and right bank. On the left sits the city of Bordeaux. Its soil has more gravel and the climate is a little warmer which favors Cabernet Sauvignon. The right bank has more clay soil and is Merlot dominant. Prominent regions from Left Bank are: Haut Medoc, Graves, Margaux, Sauterne. Prominent regions from right bank are: Pomerol (has the most expensive wines), St Emilion.

There’s a particular region in between the left and right banks called Entre Deux Mers. It only plants white grapes. The region is known for a desert wine called Sauterne. It’s aroma profile has notes of apricot, peaches, ginger toasted spice aromas and its taste profile is a honey sweetness caused by delayed fermentation.

There are thousands of chateau but the top 5 are in the left bank. They were classified as premier cru in 1855. First growth Chateaus are: Chateau Haut-Brion, Chateau Margaux, Chateau Latour, Chateau Lafite Rothchild, Mouton Rothchild.

The red wine varieties that are allowed to be planted in Bordeaux are: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Carmenere (in ancient times). White grapes allowed are Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. The basic wine classification of the region is: Bordeaux (wines that have grapes from coops or lower regions), Bordeaux Superieur (grapes from an exclusive region or chateau), Cru Classe (the best, It can be Grand or Premier).