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Bordeaux has long been home to iconic names like Medoc, Pomerol, Saint-Émilion, Pauillac, Margaux, Sauternes, and Cognac - - all of them located within a short distance of each other.
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Thanks to unique natural elements including rivers, elevation changes, and a wide range of soils, wine making has thrived here, resulting In remarkable red wines, white wines, sweet wines, and other aperitifs and digestifs.
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Bordeaux is usually thought of in terms of left bank and right bank, referring to their location along the Gironde River.
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The left bank is home to the Medoc region, which at one time was swampy marshland.
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This is red wine country where tasty Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes enhance wines from Pauillac, Saint-Julien, and Margaux.
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The vineyards are influenced by the warm waters of the Gironde estuary, southeasterly exposure, and soil that is a mix of soft clay and gravel.
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It's a rare combination that has delivered Bordeaux's most desired wines Still On the left bank, but to the south is the Graves region.
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Its red wines were sought after, long before Medoc existed, and it said that US President Thomas Jefferson had a special fondness for wine from one of the Chateaus here.
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The Graves region is also home to wonderful white wines and the much loved so and Sauterenes and Barsac and wines.
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These intensely sweet white wines are the end result of a phenomenon known as noble rot.
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It impacts the grapes frequently here, dehydrating them inside the skin, which increases the concentration of sugars.
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The three main grapes of this area are Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Moscatel Between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers is Entre-Deux-Mer, which means between two seas.
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This productive area is the source for the majority of Bordeaux's mainstream red wines.
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The right bank has its own treasures, like the Libournais region, also bordering the Dordogne River.
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It was first cultivated by the Romans and is home to the highly regarded Pomerol wines.
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The grapes here are a mix of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and the soil is influenced by varying degrees of gravel and sand.
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Just next door is Saint-Émilion, named for the quaint village, the vineyards surround.
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The other notable region includes Bourg & Blaye situated where the Garrone and Dordogne rivers meet.
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It's one of the oldest wine producing areas of Bordeaux.
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Merlot is the principle grape here, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec.
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Sauvignon Blanc grapes are also grown here for use in delightful sparkling wines.
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While another white grape, Ugni Blanc is transformed into cognac.
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Bordeaux is a diverse, beautiful region that I find fascinating, a mix of intriguing historical treasures and insights into the art of wine and Joie de vivre.
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Whether you are a wine connoisseur or delving into the topic for the first time, Bordeaux is a destination well worth exploring.
Bordeaux, France’s celebrated vineyard-laden province, is home to some of the world’s most prized wines. Learn about its different regions and appellations with Karine.
