BORDEAUX, FRANCE
Grapevines were introduced to the Bordeaux region by the Romans, probably in the mid-1st century, and its winemaking tradition still flourishes today. The largest controlled wine growing region in France is divided into sub-regions including Saint-Émilion, Pomerol, Médoc, and Graves and the majority of wine produced in is red (known as Claret in Britain) made by more than 8,500 producers or châteaux. Sweet white wines (Sauternes), dry whites, Rosé and the sparkling Crémant de Bordeaux make up the remainder. The region’s maritime climate nurtures a distinguished collection of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot for reds and Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Muscadelle and Ugni Blanc for whites; but it’s the collective quality of terroir, region, village and château that truly make Bordeaux wines sing. The main river in Bordeaux is the Gironde and its Left Bank vineyards are dominated by tannic Cabernet Sauvignon wines, whilst the Merlot-focussed Right Bank wines tend to have more restrained tannins.
