Bordeaux Wine Regions

The best bottles of premium red wines Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc can only come from Bordeaux, considered the red wine capital of France. This region accounts for over 80 percent of the nation's total harvest coming from its 12,00 wine growers. Bordeaux is divided by the Gironde River into the Left Bank region and the Right Bank region.

The Left Bank has a maritime climate coupled with gravel-rich fertile soil which produces grapes mostly of Cabernet Sauvignon variety. This division includes the areas of St. Julien and Margaux known for their Crus Bourgeois wines; the Medoc area which is home to Listrac-Medoc and the Moulis-en-Medoc; Pauillac which produces the prized Malbec grape variety; and St. Estephe which grows both the Cabernet Sauvignin and Merlot grape varieties.

The Right Bank has clayish soil which favors growing of the Merlot variety. The areas here include Pomerol which was first cultivated by the Romans and produces the least tannic of all Bourdeaux wines; St. Emilion which produces the labels St-Georges-Saint Emilion and Montagne-Saint-Emilion; and Blaye and Bourg areas which are two of the oldest wine producing territories in Bordeaux and is also producing sparkling wines and cognac.

Another Bordeaux region is the Graves which produces both red and white wines. It is also believed to be the place where French wines that were exported to England during the middle ages were produced. Meantime, the areas of Sauternes and Barsac produces world-famous sweet and white dessert wines.