Bordeaux produces over 600 million bottles of wine per annum and accounts for over 25% of all AC wines* produced in France. Soils are a mixture of gravel, sand and alluvial with the better wines coming from the well drained gravel and calcareous regions. The climate in Bordeaux is mild and heavily influenced by the Gulf Stream and the Atlantic Ocean, Excessive rainfall at harvest time can be a problem but severe spring frosts are rare (1956 and 1991 being two exceptions).

Château Palmer

Bordeaux wine production is predominantly red (75%) and its most famous grape is the Cabernet Sauvignon, the dominant variety in most of the left bank reds. Merlot, however, is more widely planted and together with Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot combines with the Cabernet Sauvignon to make the typical 'Bordeaux blend'. All red AC Bordeaux wines are blends as distinct from the 100% varietals of say, Burgundy, and the mix of the blend depends very much on the location of the Chateau and the style of the winemaker.

Historically, the availability of grapes with different ripening times served as an insurance policy against the climatic variations from year to year. The grape varieties are vinified separately and then 'assembled' within a few months of fermentation when the winemaker decides the final blend.

Château Margaux