Bordeaux Wines
When it comes to success stories, France has had a few, and one of those that has made the international stage, is its success in the wine industry. Although the number of wine growing regions in the country reaches into double figures, there is one name that stands head and shoulders above the rest as an international success story:
Bordeaux is, quite simply, one of the best located places for growing grapes in the world. Its Vineyards and Chateaus are located along the Gironde, Garonne, or Dordogne rivers, all of which benefit from the warm weather travelling along the Gulf Stream, and limestone soils. Todays production of red and white wines easily makes Bordeaux the gem in France’s crown, and sets it head and shoulders above the rest of it’s international competitors, particularly in terms of production frequencies and volume.
Although French wine production can be traced back to Roman times, the popularity of Bordeaux’s product is likely to have increased in the 12th century, thanks in part to the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry 2nd of England. With Aquitaine under English control, this opened up trading routes to England for Bordeaux Wine. War, Economic Climate, and the production of cheap imitation wines in other regions, all affected the success of Bordeaux wine over the years, but overall growth was still vast. Today there are now wine making maps produced that detail the exact part of the region the wine is from, which feature around 22 areas. These include Médoc, Graves, Bourg, Pomerol, and Vayres. There are also laws stating that only wines produced in this area can be given a Bordeaux label.
Both the red and white wines produced in Bordeaux are typically made using a blend of grapes. As an example, Claret or Red Bordeaux, could be made using a mix of the popular Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc varieties. Meanwhile White Bordeaux wines often feature Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle, and Sémillon blends. There are around 57 different appellations or types of wine produced in the Bordeaux region, which amounts to a total of 700 million bottles per vintage. These bottles range from basic red and white wines for the table to high end blends.
One of the best ways for tourists and wine enthusiasts alike, to find out more about all the grape varieties, and wines produced in the Bordeaux area, is to take a trip to, or stay at a vineyard. Many vineyards are set in scenic locations, and offer anything from rustic cottages, apartments, or grand Chateau rooms for guests. Many places will offer wine tastings, and vineyard tours, as well as an insight into their winemaking families and backgrounds. They are located throughout the Bordeaux area, around the rivers, and up in the hills, and provide great locations for a holiday.
Whether a wine tasting experience revolves around a trip to the local off licence or supermarket, or at the other end of the scale, a trip to a typical Bordeaux Wine Chateau or Vineyard, there’s a wide choice of dry, sweet, red, white, spicey, flowery, or citrus aromas to be found in Bordeaux wines, which are without question, some of the finest in the world.
