- Home
- Gironde, land of a thousand colours
- The Bordeaux Wine Region
The Bordeaux Wine Region
For 2,000 years, the history of the Gironde has been inextricably linked with that of its vineyards. The very first vine stocks were planted in the Graves region in A.D. 1… for an outcome today that is plain for all to see…
Margaux, Saint-Estèphe, Pomerol, Saint-Emilion, Loupiac and Sauternes, are just some of the world famous prestigious appellations in the region, along with the names Ausone, Cheval-Blanc, Haut-Brion, Latour, Pape-Clément, Petrus, and Yquem.
Grand Cru Classé du Médoc
The ideal climate and soils for growing vines have therefore turned the Gironde into a dream destination for wine lovers.
This wine region – with a unique place in the world – is also distinct by the wide diversity of vineyards and products: world famous grands crus and other châteaux worth visiting, characteristic local wines, fresh and fruity, reds, rosés, whites, sparkling, brandies, liqueurs… the list goes on!
This extensive range of tastes and aromas can be enjoyed just as much in the privacy of a storeroom as in wine centres or cellars – where the secrets of how wine is made are revealed.
As the birthplace of the most famous châteaux (Ausone, Cheval Blanc and Petrus), Saint-Emilion and its jurisdiction were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage in 1999 as a “cultural landscape”. This is a world first for a vineyard!
Nowadays, the Gironde wine region encompasses 500 of the 542 towns and villages in the county, and produces various types of wine: red, dry white, sweet and dessert white, rosé, clairet, Crémant and Fine de Bordeaux.
Through the “Vignobles et Chais en Bordelais” charter and “Bacchus” accommodation options, we guarantee our visitors a warm welcome meeting quality criteria in almost 500 properties, cellars and wine centres across the Gironde.
Enjoy your trip in the Gironde, the Bordeaux Wine Region.
Did you know?
Bordeaux wines are unique in that they are the fruit of a blend: batches of grape varieties – of different ages – from one property are blended, unlike “cuvées”, which are practised in other wine regions.
-
Saint-Emilion, Village Mondial
L’Histoire se dessine au détour des ruelles et au fil des visites. Votre regard est immédiatement attiré par chaque pierre, chaque feuille de vigne, et vos papilles frémissent à l’odeur des macarons fabriqués dans la pure tradition. Ce ravissant village médiéval, situé au cœur du célèbre vignoble bordelais, est unique en son genre du fait de la prépondérance de ses propriétés viticoles, de la qualité de ses vins et de la majesté de son architecture et de ses monuments.
-
Les châteaux ouverts ce week-end
Les châteaux de Gironde vous ouvrent leurs portes chaque week-end ! N'attendez plus pour découvrir, visiter ou déguster car vous n'aurez plus d'excuse...
-
Learning how to taste wine properly
Putting impressions into words: this is the challenge of a wine tasting session. Whether you’re new to the experience or an experienced connoisseur, wine tasting always involves a sensory analysis using what you can see, smell and taste.
-
From the beginnings through to today
The Gironde has been cultivating the art of wine for two centuries already! The very first vine stocks were planted in A.D. 1 by a Gaulois tribe, the Bituriges Vivisques, to whom we also owe the founding of Bordeaux (Burdigala). Ever since, the wine trade has gone from strength to strength, turning Bordeaux and the Gironde into an international wine destination.
-
The Gironde appellations
With 60 Appellations of Controlled Origin (AOC) for 120,000 hectares of vines, the Gironde is the largest AOC wine region in France!
-
The 1855 ranking
Set up in 1461 by Louis XI, the Bordeaux parliament brought together all the large local fortunes. It was these MPs who would go on to develop the wine region through the 17th and 18th centuries, introduce the concept of “cru” and found the first “wine châteaux”.
-
Explore the wine region in a different way
Decide to take your first hot-air balloon flight and view the wine region from above; gallop through the vineyard Wild West style; find out your “wine sign” during a wine-tasting session “ blindfolded” and play at being apprentice wine specialists by putting together your own blend of wines. In the Gironde, all roads lead to vineyards, and everyone can learn about wine in a fun way!
-
Vignobles et Chais en Bordelais ® and Bacchus accommodation
The Bordeaux vineyards form a complex wine region that it is sometimes difficult to make head or tail of. To help you, the “Vignobles et Chais en Bordelais” charter selects, so you don’t have to, wine-making sites, estates, cooperative cellars and wine centres that are committed to giving you a VIP welcome.
-
Bacchus accommodation
Come and stay right in the vineyards!
-
With the kids
Bringing the kids along to explore the wine region? It can be done!
-
Vineyard festivals
Festivals and activities are thrown all year round in the Gironde wine region .
-
The Best Of Wine Tourism
Organised since 2004 by the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce and Industry as part of the Global Network of Great Wine Capitals, every year the Best Of Wine Tourism awards are given to remarkable sites for the quality of their services and the warm welcome they extend to visitors.
-
The Bordeaux Wine Region from A to Z
