A Guide to The Left Bank of Bordeaux
Bordeaux Index
29 September 2025
Bordeaux’s vineyards are defined by the waterways that run through them. The Gironde Estuary, which eventually flows into the Atlantic, splits into two rivers: the Dordogne to the north and the Garonne to the south. The land on the northern side of the Dordogne is known as the Right Bank, while the vineyards stretching south of the Garonne form the Left Bank. Together, these two halves frame the estuary and shape Bordeaux’s identity.
The Left Bank
The Left Bank of the Gironde estuary, known as the Medoc, is dominated by the famous appellations of Margaux, St Julien, Pauillac and St Estephe. Further south, below the city of Bordeaux, we find the Pessac and Graves appellations.