Part of the plan was to uproot 17,000 hectares of the 124,000 hectares of vineyards in Bordeaux. The traditional Bordeaux barrique is a 225-litre oak barrel. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère. Red wines from Bordeaux are medium- to full-bodied with aromas of black currant, plums, and earthy notes of wet gravel or pencil lead. Bordeaux is centered on the city of Bordeaux, on the Garonne River. One of the most important things to know about Bordeaux wines is that they are a blend of grape varieties. Recently permitted by Bordeaux wineries, three new white grapes have been added. Bordeaux is the largest wine producing region in France. To the north of the city the Dordogne River joins the Garonne forming the broad estuary called the Gironde and covering the whole area of the Gironde department, with a total vineyard area of over 120,000 hectares, making it the largest wine growing area in France. In the past, this was counteracted by the widespread use of pesticides, although the use of natural methods has recently been gaining in popularity. The area in between the rivers is known as Entre Deux Mers – literally, ‘between two seas’ in French. Typical blends are 80% Sémillon and 20% Sauvignon blanc. This article will introduce you to Bordeaux wine including tasting notes, food pairing suggestions, and key details to know. Bordeaux was first loved for its sweet white wines from the sub-region of Sauternes. This tour visits two wine chateaux in th … Read more. … The Gironde estuary and its two tributaries, the Garonne and Dordogne, splits the region into the ‘left bank’ and ‘right bank’. Within these communes, again, are certain individual vineyards, called châteaux in … [29] It has remained a term associated with the English upper class, and consequently appears on bottles of generic red Bordeaux in an effort to raise their status in the market. Crushing was traditionally done by foot, but mechanical crushing is now almost universally used. If you encounter two or more answers look at the most recent one i.e the last item on the answers box. It also encompasses Haut-Médoc, Listrac-Médoc and Moulis-en-Médoc appellations. From the blend of red wines known simply as Bordeaux to the powerful whites of the region like Barsac, numerous varieties of wine call Bordeaux home. [14], Following harvest, the grapes are usually sorted and destemmed before crushing. The export of Bordeaux was interrupted by the outbreak of the Hundred Years' War between France and England in 1337. In the late 1960s Sémillon was the most planted grape in Bordeaux. By: Office de Tourisme de Bordeaux. It wasn’t until the mid 1800’s that Bordeaux red wines became more well known from the region. In fact, Bordeaux wine will taste sweet and fruity against this rich meaty backdrop. Hopefully, you’ve been inspired to pick up a bottle or two to taste what Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot taste like from their homeland–they’re quite unique! The wine had prestigious clientele including Thomas Jefferson during an era when sweet white wines were more popular than dry red wines. Jumping off from the main locations of Bordeaux or Libourne enjoy hundreds of local attractions to visit throughout the region. Designed by us and made in Seattle, WA. Here is a typical example of a left bank Bordeaux blend in order of proportion: This area in Bordeaux is known for its red clay soils that produce bold plummy red wines with a dominance of Merlot. Many well-known appellations such as the Medoc, St. Estèphe, Pauillac, and Pomerol are located throughout Bordeaux for you to discover. Bordeaux is one of the most important, prestigious and famous wine regions in the world and certainly in France. However, two years after the beginning of the program, Mr Delpeuch[35] resigned, "citing the failure of the French government to address properly the wine crisis in Bordeaux." Sip the full-bodied wines at two wine estates. The wine had prestigious clientele during an era when sweet white wines were more popular than dry red ones. From 1875 to 1892 almost all Bordeaux vineyards were ruined by phylloxera infestations. The Pomerol AOC tends to be softer than the Médoc wines, with less tannins and a richer plum flavor. Bordeaux is the largest wine producing region in France. @WineFolly. [33] The wine industry in Bordeaux has been experiencing economic problems in the face of strong international competition from New World wines and declining wine consumption in France.[34]. from $60.55. The first Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vines originated in Bordeaux. Bordeaux (“Bore-doe”) refers to a wine from Bordeaux, France. 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