Discovery Series Explores Wines of Bordeaux
Long regarded as the pinnacle of the world’s fine wine regions, the French region of Bordeaux produces wines in almost every style, from white to red, dry to sweet, still and sparkling.
Exploring Bordeaux, France’s Premier Wine Region
Bordeaux, in southwestern France, has a cool maritime climate that makes for well-balanced wines.
The proximity of the Atlantic Ocean cools the vineyards of Bordeaux, letting the grapes ripen while maintaining a good level of acid. Red grapes, such as cabernet sauvignon and merlot, are planted in areas with warmer microclimates that allow tannin development. White grapes are planted in cooler areas.
Exploring Bordeaux, France’s Premier Wine Region
The wines of Bordeaux are made from an assortment of grapes, including some world-famous varieties.
Cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, malbec and petit verdot are the red grapes common to Bordeaux, with cabernet sauvignon and merlot being the majority of plantings. Sauvignon blanc, sémillon and muscadelle are the most important white grapes in the region .
Exploring Bordeaux, France’s Premier Wine Region
The region’s wines pair wonderfully with a wide array of cuisines.
Famous Bordelaise dishes include entrecôte bordelaise, a beefsteak dish, and agneau de pauillac, a lamb dish. The hearty reds of Bordeaux pair excellently with both. Lighter cuisine accords well with the dry whites of the region, while the sweet whites are best with fruit desserts or blue cheese.
Exploring Bordeaux, France’s Premier Wine Region
Bordeaux produces many styles of wine.
The region’s dry table wines come in red, rosé and white, as well as a special dark rosé called clairet. Sweet whites are made from grapes affected by botrytis, a fungus which concentrates the sugars. The region even produces a small amount of white and rosé sparkling wine.
Exploring Bordeaux, France’s Premier Wine Region
The classifications and subdivisions of Bordeaux can be complex.
Bordeaux has three tiers of appellations: region-wide appellations, such as Bordeaux and Crémant de Bordeaux; subregional appellations, such as Médoc and Graves; and communal, or town, appellations, such as Pauillac or Sauternes.
Shop the World of Bordeaux Wines
