A Guide to Bordeaux

Home to the five First Growths, Bordeaux is arguably the best-known fine wine region in the world.

An Overview of Bordeaux

Bordeaux sits in the south-west of France and is one of the world’s more renowned wine regions, celebrated for its rich history, diverse terroir, and exceptional wines. Spanning approximately 120,000 hectares, Bordeaux is home to over 10,000 vineyards across 60 different appellations.

The main producing region of Bordeaux can be divided into two ‘banks’, each representing one side of the Gironde estuary, which divides into the Dordogne and Garonne rivers.

The Left Bank

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.

The terroir is predominantly flat, with gentle undulations and the soil is largely composed of gravel and limestone with minimal clay. With such soil composition, the vines of the Left Bank must reach deeper to source water, this struggle leading to more concentrated fruit flavours with more tannin and a larger structure than those from The Right Bank.

The Right Bank

The Right Bank is known for its softer, Merlot-based wines, with less tannin and acid than wines from The Left Bank. Notable Right Bank appellations include Saint-Émilion and Pomerol. Generally, the terroir in the Right Bank region is dominated by clay and limestone, this combination creates a bedrock ideal for deep-rooted vines.

Grape Varieties

Red wines from both the Left Bank and the Right Bank primarily reply upon three grape varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. White wines from Bordeaux are typically made from Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle.

A Guide to the History of Bordeaux

Bordeaux was first established as a wine growing area by the Romans around 60BC, recognised for its optimal terroir and maritime climate. Served at the royal wedding of Eleanor of Aquitaine and the future King of England, Henry Plantagenet, wines from Bordeaux were subsequently shipped over to England in 1302 for the courts of King Edward I.

Remaining under English ownership for over 300 years, wines from Bordeaux quickly gained status and following amongst royalty and aristocracy. By the late 1600’s, specific regions and brands began to develop, with Châteaux such as Haut Brion, Margaux, Lafite and Latour gaining significant recognition by the wine buying public.

The year 1855 remains one of the most recognisable in Bordeaux’s history – the year of the great classification. The classification established a ranking system for the wines of the Médoc region, from First to Fifth Growths. In its history, the classification system has only encountered one change, as Mouton Rothschild was promoted from 2^nd growth to 1^st growth status in 1973. This system was developed to help promote the wines of Bordeaux and guide consumers to the best of each appellation, acting as an indicator of price.

1855 Premiers Crus

Château Lafite-Rothschild – Pauillac

Château Latour – Pauillac

Château Margaux – Margaux

Château Haut-Brion – Pessac

Discover our extensive selection of Bordeaux at Bordeaux Index.