Located in the south-western part of France, along the Atlantic coast, the Bordeaux vineyard covers 2/3 of the Gironde department. It is the largest fine wine producing vineyard in the world, with 120 000 hectares of “Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée” vines.
Around 10 000 vine growers produce 6 millions hectolitres per year on average, say 800 million bottles of all types of wines:

Red wines of course, which are the most famous from this area, representing 85 % of the production
Dry white wines
Sweet white wines
« Rosé » and « clairet » wines
Sparkling wine: the « crémant de Bordeaux ».

This unique vineyard, benefiting from an exceptional location and climatic conditions, produces only “Appellation d’Origine contrôlée” (AOC) wines, the highest wine quality classification, corresponding to very strict production and winemaking rules.

The Bordeaux vineyard covers 57 AOC, each one corresponding to a wine type linked with a specific “terroir” (climate and soil) and local agricultural traditions. This mosaic of 57 appellations can seem complex and useless, but it is the result of the observation by generations of wine producers, who have adapted over the centuries their work and the grape varieties to the ground which fed them. 

 For clairet, rosé and red wines, the main varieties are in decreasing order Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, which are completed in some regions by Malbec, Petit Verdot and Carmenère.
White wines (dry, sweet and sparkling) are mainly produced with Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle.

One important thing to keep in mind: a Bordeaux wine is a blend of at least 2 varieties. This is a way to ensure wine quality; with each vintage the proportion of each variety is adapted, depending upon its maturity and complexity (these variations are called the vintage effect). Through this art of blending, the winemaker can maintain a more constant level of quality, and maintain the characteristic identity of the “chateau”.

If you would like to learn more about Bordeaux wines and vineyard, please consult the Bordeaux Wine council website.