Regions

Bordeaux

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Bordeaux, the Gironde wine region of southwestern France, pairs Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant Left Bank reds and Merlot-dominant Right Bank reds with dry whites and the sweet white wines of Sauternes.

Bordeaux, located in southwestern France along the Gironde estuary, covered 103,200 hectares of vines across the whole of the Gironde in 2023, making it the largest AOC vineyard in France. The appellation's geographic area spans 494 of the Gironde's 535 communes, where the Dordogne and the Garonne unite at the Bec d'Ambès to form the Gironde estuary. Bordeaux wines fall under five classifications: the 1855 Classification, the Graves classification, the Saint-Émilion classification, the Crus Bourgeois du Médoc and the Crus Artisans. The climate is oceanic; the Left Bank is known for gravelly soils and Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blends, and the Right Bank for clay and limestone soils and Merlot-dominant blends.

Drill Bordeaux. Flashcards and trivia on the region and its wines.

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History and Heritage

The Bordeaux vineyard dates to the first century AD, when the Bituriges Vivisques of Bordeaux, discovering wine under Roman influence, planted a vine more resistant to cold, Vitis Biturica, considered the ancestor of the 'cabernets'; the vineyard's true expansion came in the 12th and 13th centuries. The 1152 marriage of Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine, to Henry Plantagenet, future King of England, led the English to import Bordeaux wines they named 'claret' for their light colour, a tradition that survives in the 'clairet' and 'claret' label terms. English rule ended in 1453, when defeat at the Battle of Castillon forced England to cede Aquitaine to the King of France; Dutch merchants later encouraged the production of dry and semi-sweet white wines. For the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1855, Emperor Napoleon III asked Bordeaux's brokers to rank the region's finest wines using two criteria: the reputation of each estate and the market prices fetched by its most recent vintages. Oidium struck in 1857 and phylloxera from 1875 to 1892, and Bordeaux scientists including Ulysse Gayon devised the copper-based 'bouillie bordelaise' against mildew. A departmental delimitation of the Bordeaux appellation by decree of 18 February 1911 was confirmed as AOC Bordeaux by the decree of 14 November 1936.

At the end of the 18th century the 'cabernets', Cot (Malbec) and Petit Verdot were Bordeaux's principal grapes; Merlot, the principal grape today, only began to spread from 1830, above all with grafting
The 1152 marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry Plantagenet opened the English trade in Bordeaux 'claret'
In 1855 the Chamber of Commerce asked the wine brokers' syndicate to rank the region's finest wines, and the resulting classification essentially mirrored the unofficial ranking already established by English consumers
Château Mouton Rothschild was promoted to the top tier of the 1855 Classification in 1973
The severe frosts of the winter of 1956 led to a deep restructuring and modernisation of the vineyard

Key Facts

The 1855 Classification was drawn up for the Paris Universal Exhibition at the request of Emperor Napoleon III; Bordeaux's Chamber of Commerce asked the wine brokers' syndicate to rank the region's finest wines, and the classification was established on 18 April 1855
The five 1855 first growths are Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Latour, Château Margaux, Château Haut-Brion and Château Mouton Rothschild; Mouton was promoted to the top tier in 1973
The 1855 Classification counts 88 classified growths: 60 Médoc estates and 1 Graves estate (Château Haut-Brion) for red wines, and 27 châteaux in Sauternes and Barsac for sweet white wines
The Saint-Émilion classification, first published in 1955 and revised every ten years, named 85 châteaux in its 2022 edition: 2 Premiers Grands Crus Classés A, 12 Premiers Grands Crus Classés and 71 Grands Crus Classés
Château Ausone, Château Cheval Blanc and Château Angélus withdrew from the 2022 Saint-Émilion classification, leaving Château Pavie and the newly promoted Château Figeac as its two Premiers Grands Crus Classés A
Merlot accounts for 66% of Bordeaux's red-grape plantings and Sauvignon Blanc for 45% of its white-grape plantings
The 1152 marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry Plantagenet led the English to import Bordeaux wines they called 'claret' for their light colour; English rule ended with the 1453 defeat at the Battle of Castillon

Geography and Climate

The Bordeaux geographic area covers 494 of the 535 communes of the Gironde department, excluding the forested southwest of the department. The Dordogne to the north and the Garonne to the south unite at the Bec d'Ambès to form the Gironde estuary, dividing the vineyard into three broad zones: the Nord-Gironde on the right bank of the Dordogne and the estuary, the land between the Dordogne and the Garonne, and the left bank of the Garonne and the estuary. The Left Bank is the area directly south of the Garonne, the Right Bank the area north of the Dordogne, and the land between them the Entre-deux-Mers. The Atlantic Ocean, the Gironde estuary and the Garonne and Dordogne valleys play an important thermoregulating role, though their moderating effect on spring frost fades away from the sea and the large valleys. Rainfall averages between 700 mm and 800 mm a year, and the oceanic climate, with rainy autumn depressions in some years and hot, very sunny late seasons in others, produces a marked vintage effect. The gravel terraces along the rivers are well drained, warm and ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon, while the clay-limestone slopes are sites where Merlot expresses itself very well.

The appellation has four soil types: clay-limestone and marly-limestone soils on the slopes, siliceous soils mixed with clay and limestone, light siliceous 'boulbènes' suited to dry white wines, and gravel terraces of gravel, rolled quartz and sand
Left Bank soils are largely alluvial gravels with limestone underneath; Saint-Estèphe, Pauillac, Saint-Julien and Margaux are the Médoc's four best-known appellations, from north to south
Saint-Émilion has a plateau of asteriated limestone, a terrace of silt-clay gravel stretching towards Libourne, clay-limestone hills and valleys, and the sandy-gravel plain of the Dordogne valley; Pomerol has no limestone, with alluvial gravels and sand mixed with much more clay
Merlot tends to ripen earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon, which is why critics sometimes speak of a 'Right Bank' or 'Left Bank' vintage

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Key Grapes and Wine Styles

AOC Bordeaux authorises Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cot (Malbec), Carmenère and Petit Verdot for red wines, and Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris and Muscadelle as the principal white grapes, with Colombard, Merlot Blanc and Ugni Blanc as accessory white varieties. Six main grape varieties, three red and three white, form the foundation of Bordeaux wines, which are most often born from a blend of several varieties. Merlot accounts for 66% of red plantings, Cabernet Sauvignon for 22.5% and Cabernet Franc for 9.5%, while Sauvignon Blanc accounts for 45% of white plantings, Sémillon for 42% and Muscadelle for 5%. Left Bank wines are usually blends in which Cabernet Sauvignon is dominant, with Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc in supporting roles, while Right Bank wines are predominantly Merlot-based. Red Bordeaux in which Merlot is often the majority grape tends to be supple, fruity and low in acidity, with Cabernet Sauvignon and, to a lesser extent, Cabernet Franc adding aromatic complexity and tannic power. White wines range from the dry whites of Pessac-Léognan and Entre-Deux-Mers to the sweet white wines of Sauternes, where morning fog and afternoon sunshine, influenced by the cool waters of the Ciron river, create the conditions for Botrytis cinerea, or noble rot.

Cabernet Sauvignon typically contributes structure and tension, the backbone of the wine, while Merlot brings roundness, depth and aromatic richness
The proportion of Cabernet Franc in Cheval Blanc's grand vin has been creeping up, to around 46% of the final blend
Under a framework approved by the competent national committee on 2 and 3 June 2021, AOC Bordeaux reds may also use Arinarnoa, Castets, Marselan, Touriga Nacional and Vidoc, subject to individual agreements
Sauvignon Blanc-based dry whites tend to be very aromatic, fresh and fruity, with Sémillon adding volume and richness and Muscadelle floral aromas

Notable Producers and Châteaux

The five first growths of the 1855 Classification are Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Latour, Château Margaux, Château Haut-Brion and Château Mouton Rothschild; Château Haut-Brion in Pessac is the only Graves estate in the 1855 list. Epithets such as 'Super Second' and 'Flying Fifth' have been applied to classified châteaux judged to be outperforming their rank. The 1855 list also includes Château Léoville Las Cases, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, Château Palmer, Château Pontet-Canet and Château Lynch-Bages. On the Right Bank, Château Cheval Blanc, Château Ausone and Château Angélus withdrew from the 2022 Saint-Émilion classification, while Château Figeac joined Château Pavie as a Premier Grand Cru Classé A. In Sauternes, Château d'Yquem is the only Premier Cru Supérieur of the 1855 Classification.

Château Haut-Brion was included in the original 1855 list even though it sits in Graves
Château Haut-Brion is the only Bordeaux estate classified twice, in the 1855 Classification and the Graves classification
Château Léoville Las Cases (Saint-Julien), Château Palmer (Margaux), Château Pontet-Canet (Pauillac) and Château Lynch-Bages (Pauillac) all appear among the 1855 Grands Crus Classés du Médoc
The 2025 Crus Bourgeois du Médoc classification lists 170 Médoc estates in three tiers: Cru Bourgeois, Cru Bourgeois Supérieur and Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel

Wine Laws and Classifications

Classification ladders

Ranked classification

Bordeaux 1855 Classification

Bordeaux Full article 5 tiers, lowest to highest

5First GrowthPremier Cru
Premier Cru (First Growth) stands at the top with 5 châteaux: Lafite Rothschild, Latour, Margaux, Haut-Brion and, since its 1973 promotion, Mouton Rothschild.
Examples Château Latour Château Margaux Château Lafite Rothschild Château Mouton Rothschild
Premier Cru (First Growth): 5 châteaux - Lafite Rothschild, Latour, Margaux, Haut-Brion, Mouton Rothschild
From 1855 Classification, read from two or more sentences
4Second GrowthDeuxième Cru
Deuxième Cru (Second Growth) today numbers 14 châteaux including Cos d'Estournel, Ducru-Beaucaillou, Léoville Las-Cases, and Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande.
Examples Château Léoville Barton Château Ducru-Beaucaillou Château Cos d'Estournel Château Léoville-Las Cases
Deuxième Cru (Second Growth): 14 châteaux including Cos d'Estournel, Ducru-Beaucaillou, Léoville Las-Cases, and Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
From 1855 Classification, read from two or more sentences
3Third GrowthTroisième Cru
The Conseil des Grands Crus Classés en 1855 listing names 14 Troisièmes Crus (Third Growths).
Examples Château Palmer Château Giscours Château Langoa-Barton Château Kirwan
The Conseil des Grands Crus Classés en 1855 lists 5 First Growths, 14 Second Growths, 14 Third Growths, 10 Fourth Growths and 18 Fifth Growths among the red wines, 61 châteaux in all
From 1855 Classification, read from two or more sentences
2Fourth GrowthQuatrième Cru
The Conseil des Grands Crus Classés en 1855 listing names 10 Quatrièmes Crus (Fourth Growths).
Examples Château Beychevelle Château Branaire-Ducru Château Duhart-Milon Château La Tour Carnet
The Conseil des Grands Crus Classés en 1855 lists 5 First Growths, 14 Second Growths, 14 Third Growths, 10 Fourth Growths and 18 Fifth Growths among the red wines, 61 châteaux in all
From 1855 Classification, read from two or more sentences
1Fifth GrowthCinquième Cru
The Conseil des Grands Crus Classés en 1855 listing names 18 Cinquièmes Crus (Fifth Growths), among them Château Cantemerle, added on September 16, 1855.
Examples Château Haut-Batailley Château Belgrave Château Cantemerle Château Clerc Milon
The Conseil des Grands Crus Classés en 1855 lists 5 First Growths, 14 Second Growths, 14 Third Growths, 10 Fourth Growths and 18 Fifth Growths among the red wines, 61 châteaux in all
From 1855 Classification, read from two or more sentences

Properties earned their place through a long-term track record of market prices, not a single vintage.
Only two official changes have been made: Cantemerle added as a Fifth Growth on September 16, 1855, and Mouton Rothschild promoted from Second to First Growth in June 1973.
The rank attaches to the château, not to specific vineyards; châteaux can trade land without affecting their classification.

Tiers, criteria and figures come only from 1855 Classification own text. Tap a rung for its criteria and the sentence behind it.

Ranked classification

Sauternes and Barsac 1855 Classification

Bordeaux Full article 3 tiers, lowest to highest

3Premier Cru Supérieur
Château d'Yquem alone is recognised as the unique Premier Cru Supérieur, a designation that has no equivalent among the red wine First Growths.
Examples Château d'Yquem
The 1855 sweet wine classification recognises Château d'Yquem as the unique Premier Cru Supérieur, a designation that has no equivalent among the red wine First Growths.
From Sauternes
2Premiers Crus
The 1855 classification ranks 11 estates as Premiers Crus (Climens, Coutet, Suduiraut, Rieussec, Guiraud, La Tour Blanche, Sigalas-Rabaud, Rabaud-Promis, Lafaurie-Peyraguey, de Rayne Vigneau, Clos Haut-Peyraguey), placed below Château d'Yquem.
Examples Château Rieussec Château Suduiraut
The 1855 classification ranks Château d'Yquem as the unique Premier Cru Supérieur, alongside 11 Premiers Crus (Climens, Coutet, Suduiraut, Rieussec, Guiraud, La Tour Blanche, Sigalas-Rabaud, Rabaud-Promis, Lafaurie-Peyraguey, de Rayne Vigneau, Clos Haut-Peyraguey) and 15 Deuxièmes Crus
From Sauternes
1Deuxièmes Crus
The 1855 sweet wine classification includes 15 Deuxièmes Crus below the Premiers Crus in the classified hierarchy.
Examples Château Doisy-Dubroca
Below Yquem sit 11 Premiers Crus and 15 Deuxièmes Crus, totalling 27 classified estates today.
From Sauternes

The classified hierarchy totals 27 classified estates today.
Barsac estates may label their wines as either Barsac AOC or Sauternes AOC.

Tiers, criteria and figures come only from Sauternes own text and the Bordeaux article's classification section. Tap a rung for its criteria and the sentence behind it.

Geographic tiers

French Wine Categories

France Full article 3 tiers, lowest to highest

3AOP/AOCAppellation d'Origine Protégée / Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
The highest tier, governing geography, permitted grape varieties, maximum yields, minimum alcohol levels, and winemaking methods, with raw materials and processes required to come from the delimited terroir under a cahier des charges.
AOP/AOC: The highest tier, governing geography, permitted grape varieties, maximum yields, minimum alcohol levels, and winemaking methods; represents 43% of French wine production by volume in 2024
From French Wine Classification System
2IGPIndication Géographique Protégée
A mid-tier classification covering larger geographic zones with fewer restrictions on grape varieties and production methods, requiring at least one stage of production in the delimited area and, for wine, every operation from harvest to the end of winemaking in that area.
Examples Côtes de Gascogne IGP
IGP: at least one production stage in the area, and for wine every operation from harvest to the end of winemaking; IGP wine was 30% of French wine production by volume in 2024
From the France article, read from two or more sentences
1Vin de France
The most basic tier with minimal regulations, where producers may include grape variety and vintage on the label but no specific region of origin, since it is wine without geographical indication (FranceAgriMer's VSIG category).
Vin de France: The most basic tier with minimal regulations; producers may include grape variety and vintage on the label but no specific region of origin
From French Wine Classification System, read from two or more sentences

Classification level does not guarantee a wine's quality in any absolute sense, and exceptional bottles are produced at every tier.
The former VDQS category was due to be phased out at the end of 2011, leaving three categories: AOP/AOC, IGP and Vin de France.
Vin de France replaced the old Vin de Table category and, unlike it, may show grape variety and vintage on the label; Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée may now be called Appellation d'Origine Protégée, or AOP.

Tiers, criteria and figures come only from French Wine Classification System own text and the France article's classification section. Tap a rung for its criteria and the sentence behind it.

AOC Bordeaux was recognised by decree on 14 November 1936 and is the only PDO to produce all styles across the entire Gironde: red, Claret, Clairet, rosé, dry white and sweet white. Bordeaux wines fall under five classifications: the 1855 Classification, the Graves classification, the Saint-Émilion classification, the Crus Bourgeois du Médoc and the Crus Artisans. The 1855 Classification covers the red wines of the Médoc, plus Château Haut-Brion in Graves, in five levels from Premier Cru to Cinquième Cru, and the sweet white wines of Sauternes and Barsac in three levels: Premier Cru Supérieur, Premier Cru and Second Cru. The Saint-Émilion classification, first published in 1955, is revised every ten years and concerns only the red wines of Saint-Émilion; its three levels are Premiers Grands Crus Classés A, Premiers Grands Crus Classés and Grands Crus Classés. The Graves classification published its first list in 1953, made its one change in 1959, and now counts 14 châteaux, all in the Pessac-Léognan appellation created in 1987, classified for red wines, white wines or both. The Crus Bourgeois du Médoc classification has been revised every five years since 2020. The 2026 AOC Bordeaux specification sets base yields at 60 hl/ha for reds, 62 hl/ha for rosés and 67 hl/ha for whites. Bordeaux Supérieur reds require a minimum of nine months' ageing, lower yields and greater ripeness at harvest than Bordeaux, and Entre-Deux-Mers, long known for dry white wines, has officially produced red wines since 2023.

The five classifications: 1855 (Médoc reds plus Haut-Brion, and Sauternes and Barsac sweet whites), Graves (Pessac-Léognan reds and whites), Saint-Émilion (revised every ten years), Crus Bourgeois du Médoc (every five years since 2020) and Crus Artisans
The 1855 Classification ranks 61 red-wine châteaux (60 in the Médoc, 1 in Graves) in five levels, and 27 Sauternes and Barsac châteaux in three levels
The 2022 Saint-Émilion classification named 85 châteaux; Château Ausone, Château Cheval Blanc and Château Angélus withdrew, and Château Pavie and Château Figeac are the two Premiers Grands Crus Classés A
The 2026 AOC Bordeaux specification sets base yields of 60 hl/ha for reds and 67 hl/ha for whites; Bordeaux Supérieur reds need at least nine months' ageing

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Visiting and Culture

Bordeaux is a mosaic of six winegrowing landscapes: Bordeaux, Bordeaux Supérieur and Crémant; Graves-Sauternes; Entre-deux-Mers, Premières Côtes de Bordeaux and Sainte-Foy; Saint-Émilion, Pomerol and Fronsac; the Médoc; and Blaye-Bourg. Saint-Émilion was the first wine region to be awarded UNESCO World Heritage status, in 1999, and its village is known for its rock-hewn church; the Jurade, Saint-Émilion's wine brotherhood, has been taking care of its wines for over 800 years. Bordeaux counts 300 wine merchants, who handle around two-thirds of all Bordeaux wine sales and export to more than 170 countries. En primeur sales let châteaux sell their latest vintage as futures while it is still ageing in their cellars, with buyers receiving the wines 18 to 24 months later.

Saint-Émilion was the first wine region to be awarded UNESCO World Heritage status, in 1999
En primeur means reserving a wine before it has been bottled; buyers receive the wines 18 to 24 months later
In 2023, Bordeaux wine exports reached €2.23 billion, 31% of the Gironde's total export value, and the sector counts 60,000 direct and indirect jobs
Over 75% of Bordeaux's vineyard area is certified under an environmental scheme, compared with 35% in 2014

Sources and last verified

Primary sources (INAO and CIVB): https://www.inao.gouv.fr/produit/bordeaux-rouge-ou-claret-24586, https://extranet.inao.gouv.fr/fichier/2-CDC-Bordeaux2026.pdf, https://www.bordeaux.com/en/classifications/, https://www.bordeaux.com/en/classifications/classifications-1855/, https://www.bordeaux.com/en/classifications/saint-emilion/, https://www.bordeaux.com/en/classifications/graves/, https://www.bordeaux.com/en/classifications/crus-bourgeois-du-medoc/, https://www.bordeaux.com/en/grape-varieties/, https://www.bordeaux.com/en/engagements/preserver-environnement/, https://www.bordeaux.com/en/engagements/contribuer-filiere-attractive/, https://www.bordeaux.com/en/designations/bordeaux-bordeaux-superieur-and-cremant/bordeaux/, https://www.bordeaux.com/en/designations/bordeaux-bordeaux-superieur-and-cremant/bordeaux-superieur/, https://www.bordeaux.com/en/designations/entre-deux-mers/entre-deux-mers/, https://www.bordeaux.com/en/designations/saint-emilion-pomerol-fronsac/saint-emilion/, https://www.bordeaux.com/en/designations/saint-emilion-pomerol-fronsac/pomerol/, https://www.bordeaux.com/en/designations/graves-sauternes/sauternes/, https://www.bordeaux.com/en/designations/graves-sauternes/pessac-leognan/, https://www.bordeaux.com/en/designations/medoc/, https://www.bordeaux.com/en/designations/bordeaux-bordeaux-superieur-and-cremant/cremant-de-bordeaux/, https://www.bordeaux.com/en/designations/, https://www.bordeaux.com/en/professions/wine-merchant/, https://www.bordeaux.com/en/know-how/aging/, https://www.bordeaux.com/en/know-how/blending/, https://www.bordeaux.com/en/legal-terms/. Secondary sources: https://www.decanter.com/learn/left-right-bank-bordeaux-difference-436548/, https://www.decanter.com/wine-news/st-emilion-2022-classification-promotes-chateau-figeac-to-premier-grand-cru-classe-a-487144/, https://www.jancisrobinson.com/learn/wine-regions/france/bordeaux. Last verified 2026-10-05

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Flavor Profile

Red Bordeaux, in which Merlot is often the majority grape, tends to be supple, fruity and low in acidity, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc bringing aromatic complexity and the tannic power that lets the wines keep and develop their bouquet. Left Bank wines tend to be tannic and structured, and Right Bank wines softer and fruitier. Saint-Émilion typically shows wild strawberry, redcurrant, sweet spices and vanilla, while Pomerol pairs hints of truffle with violet petals and red berries, and 12 to 18 months of ageing in oak barrels accentuates its aromatic complexity. Young Sauternes typically shows citrus, white flowers and orchard fruit, with spices, tropical fruit, nuts and dried and candied fruit emerging over time.

Food Pairings

Meats, game and fresh cheesesOysters from Arcachon BayCharcuterieFoie gras, cheese or chickenSeafood, puff pastries or roast chicken

How to Say It

Médocmay-DOK

Girondezhee-ROHND

Pauillacpoh-YAK

Saint-Émilionsah(n) tay-meel-YOHN

Pessac-Léognanpeh-SAK lay-oh-NYAHN

Sauternessoh-TEHRN

Pomerolpom-eh-ROL

Pétruspay-TROOS

Exam Study NotesWSET / CMS

Left Bank = Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blends on largely alluvial gravels (Saint-Estèphe, Pauillac, Saint-Julien, Margaux); Right Bank = predominantly Merlot-based wines on clay and limestone soils (Saint-Émilion, Pomerol).
1855 Classification: requested by Napoleon III for the Paris Universal Exhibition; 61 red-wine châteaux (60 Médoc plus Haut-Brion in Graves) in five levels and 27 Sauternes and Barsac châteaux in three levels, with Château d'Yquem the only Premier Cru Supérieur; Mouton Rothschild promoted to the top tier in 1973.
Saint-Émilion classification: first published 1955, revised every ten years; 2022 edition = 85 châteaux (2 Premiers Grands Crus Classés A, Pavie and Figeac; 12 Premiers Grands Crus Classés; 71 Grands Crus Classés); Ausone, Cheval Blanc and Angélus withdrew.
Graves classification: first list 1953, one change 1959, 14 Pessac-Léognan châteaux today, classified for reds, whites or both; Château Haut-Brion is the only estate classified twice.
AOC Bordeaux: decree of 14 November 1936; base yields 60 hl/ha red and 67 hl/ha white (2026 specification); 103,200 ha across the Gironde in 2023, the largest AOC vineyard in France; Merlot 66% of red plantings and Sauvignon Blanc 45% of white plantings.

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