Wine from Bordeaux is one of the most celebrated in the world. The Bordeaux wine region covers over 110,000 hectares of vineyards across the Gironde department, producing more than 700 million bottles per year. But with so many appellations, grape varieties and sub-regions, choosing a wine from Bordeaux can feel overwhelming. In this article, we break it all down: in English and in French.
Wine from Bordeaux: the 7 sub-regions
The Bordeaux wine region is divided into 7 main sub-regions, each with its own character and style of wine from Bordeaux:
- Entre Garonne et Dordogne: mostly white wines, fresh and fruity
- La région des Graves: both red and white wines of great elegance
- Le Blayais et le Bourgeais: robust red wines from the right bank
- Le Libournais: home to Saint-Émilion and Pomerol, the most prestigious wine from Bordeaux
- Le Médoc: the grand châteaux of Pauillac, Margaux and Saint-Estèphe
- Les appellations régionales: Bordeaux, Bordeaux Supérieur, Crémant de Bordeaux
- Les vins blancs liquoreux: the legendary sweet whites of Sauternes and Barsac
Wine from Bordeaux: the AOC appellations
Within these sub-regions, wine from Bordeaux is classified into AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée: Protected Designation of Origin). There are over 60 appellations in total. Here are the key ones to know:
- Entre Garonne et Dordogne: 9 appellations including Entre-deux-mers and Côtes-de-Bordeaux
- La région des Graves: 3 appellations: Pessac-Léognan, Graves, Graves Supérieurs
- Le Blayais et le Bourgeais: 4 appellations including Blaye-Côtes-de-Bordeaux
- Le Libournais: 12 appellations including Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, Pomerol, Fronsac
- Le Médoc: 8 appellations including Pauillac, Margaux, Saint-Julien, Saint-Estèphe
- Les appellations régionales: 6 including Bordeaux, Bordeaux Rosé, Crémant de Bordeaux
- Les vins blancs liquoreux: 6 including Sauternes, Barsac and Cadillac
Wine from Bordeaux: the grape varieties (les cépages)
Wine from Bordeaux is made from a specific range of grape varieties, known in French as cépages. The red wines use Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Carménère. The white wines are made with Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle, Colombard, Merlot Blanc, Sauvignon Gris and Ugni Blanc.
Understanding the cépages is key to choosing a wine from Bordeaux. A Médoc wine is typically Cabernet Sauvignon dominant: structured and tannic. A Pomerol or Saint-Émilion is Merlot dominant: rounder and more immediately approachable. A Sauternes is made from botrytised Sémillon: rich, golden and gloriously sweet.
Wine from Bordeaux: understanding the vintage (le millésime)
When choosing a wine from Bordeaux, one of the most important things to look at is the vintage: le millésime in French. The vintage tells you the year the grapes were harvested and gives you information about the weather conditions that year and the quality of the crop. Some years produce exceptional wine from Bordeaux (2010, 2016, 2019 are considered great vintages), while others are more modest. As a rule of thumb, great Bordeaux reds need at least 5 to 10 years to reach their peak.
Wine vocabulary in French
Learning the vocabulary of wine is a great way to practise your French. Here are the key words you need to know about wine from Bordeaux:
- Une région: a region
- Une vigne: a vineyard
- AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée): Protected Designation of Origin
- Le cépage: a grape variety
- Collecter, ramasser: to collect, to harvest
- Le millésime: the vintage
- Le château: the wine estate
- La dégustation: the wine tasting
Listen to the pronunciation of these wine words in French:
Want to discover wine from Bordeaux in person? Our cultural activities in Bordeaux include wine tasting sessions in the vineyards of Saint-Émilion, Médoc and Entre-deux-Mers: all guided in French by a native teacher. Combine wine and language for an unforgettable experience.
You might also enjoy our articles on What is Le Lillet? and the famous pastry from Bordeaux.
Channel Trotters: French in Bordeaux