WineRegionsOld WorldFranceBordeaux
Bordeaux
From the classic reds of the Medoc, Graves, St.-Emilion and Pomerol to the
great sweet whites of Sauternes and Barsac, Bordeaux is the largest source
of quality wines in the world. The borders of the Bordeaux appellation coincide
with those of the Gironde departement (French County). It is the largest
departement in France and the Bordeaux wine it produces generates more revenue
than any other region in the world. Today there are more than 22,000 vineyard
proprietors working 100,000 hectares (247,000 acres), producing 4 million
hectolitres (over 44 million cases) of Bordeaux wine every year Of these
22,000 properties, there are some 7,000 wine-producing chateau and domaines.
Yet the reputation of this great region has been built upon the quality
of less than one per cent of this number, and just three per cent of
the vast volume of wine produced is classified as Grand Cru-the highest
ranking status of AOC Bordeaux.