The Bordeaux vineyard
The Bordeaux vineyards are subdivided into several zones: Médoc, Blayais et Bourgeais, Libournais, Entre-deux-Mers, Graves and Sauternais. The Médoc vineyards stretch from the north of the Bordeaux conurbation to the Pointe de Grave. This wine-growing region benefits from a privileged climate and produces only red wines, on essentially gravelly and sandy soil, divided into two main appellations: Haut-Médoc and Médoc. In this area, there are wines classified as Grands Crus, including Château Margaux, premier Grand Cru Classé. The estate dates back to the late 16th century, but the château, the most important neoclassical building in Bordeaux, was designed in 1810. Today, this wine estate with its unique terroir is in the hands of the Mentzelopoulos family. The Médoc also boasts a number of other great châteaux, including Maucaillou in Moulis-en-Médoc and Fonréaud in Listrac.
Opposite the Médoc vineyards, on the right bank of the Gironde estuary, are the vineyards of Blayais and Bourgeais. The first traces of vineyards date back to the Roman conquest. Over the centuries, the region grew in importance until phylloxera struck at the end of the 19th century, forcing winegrowers to rethink the territory. The soils, climate and grape varieties produce a range of wines with multiple aromas: the reds, to be enjoyed young, acquire fruitiness and roundness thanks to Merlot, and a flowery, spicy character thanks to Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
Further down, the Libournais region stretches along the right bank of the Dordogne around the town of Libourne. Five vineyards are involved: Saint-Emilion, Pomerol, Fronsac, Castillon and Côtes-de-Francs. They produce powerful, velvety Merlot-based red wines, with the exception of dry and sweet white wines in the Francs-côtes-de-Bordeaux appellation. During your stay, take a tour of Saint-Emilion, a magnificent medieval town founded in the 8th century. Admire the architecture of this exceptional city from the terrace of the Tour Saint-Georges, which overlooks the town and vineyards. The jurisdiction of Saint-Emilion and its eight neighboring communes are listed as Unesco World Heritage Sites. A historic moment, as this is the first time a wine-growing area has been classified!
Between the Dordogne and Garonne rivers, the Entre-deux-Mers region offers a landscape of vine-covered hills. In all, eight vineyards and ten appellations make up the territory. Most of them date back to the 11th century. It was the monks who enabled the vineyards to develop. Entre-deux-Mers is renowned for its sauvignon-based dry white wines. Looking for wine tourism? Visit Château Lestrille and meet Estelle Roumage, who makes wines dominated by fruit. The château is open all year round, and offers unusual tours by appointment: a tour of the vineyards in a 2CV, a picnic in the vineyards... Not forgetting the unmissable visit to the winery and wine tasting.
Finally, let's finish our tour of the Bordeaux region with two appellations on the Graves road: Graves and Sauternais. The former simply owes its name to the gravelly subsoil. Merlot is the predominant grape variety, producing full-bodied, elegant red wines. The white wines, meanwhile, are made from Semillon and Sauvignon grapes. Thirteen red wines and nine white wines are classified as Grands Crus. Châteaux in the Graves region include Château La Mission Haut-Brion in Pessac, Château Smith Haut-Lafitte in Martillac and Château Carbonnieux in Léognan. Surrounded by gravelly soil, the Sauternes AOC vineyards produce sweet white wines, recognizable by their amber color. Many wines are also classified as Grand Crus.
The Basque vineyard
The vineyards of Irouleguy lie at the foot of the mountains of the Basque Country. It dates back to the 12th century, thanks to the monks of Roncesvalles Abbey. Made up of sloping plots in the shadow of the Pyrenees, the vineyards of Irouleguy, AOC of the Basque Country, are most picturesque. This small, high-altitude vineyard extends over twelve communes around Saint-Etienne-de-Baïgorry and Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. It's one of the smallest in France, and the only Basque one! It is cultivated exclusively on terraces; in the mountains, the slopes are steep! They can reach up to 80%. The grapes are harvested exclusively by hand. A distinction is made between black grapes, which account for around 85% of the appellation's surface area, and white grapes. This historic 230-hectare vineyard includes a dozen estates and a cooperative winery: Cave des Vignerons du Pays Basque. For 60 years, it has vinified and marketed most of Irouleguy's wines. During your stay, make a stop at the historic Brana estate: the visit to the spectacular winery is well worth the detour!
The Landes vineyard
Along the Adour river, the Landes vineyards enjoy favorable conditions. The clay soil and climate produce quality wines that are often overlooked. This vineyard has one AOP, Vin de Tursan, and three IGPs, Vin de Pays des Landes, Vin de Chalosse and Vin des Sables. Tursan is nestled in the Landes Adour region, while Chalosse wines are south of the Adour. More picturesque, some vineyards are located at the foot of dunes. On the beach at Capbreton, protected from the wind, you can see the vines just a few meters away. This is the Domaine de la Pointe, recognized for 600 years as a winegrowing terroir of great originality and spread over five hectares. With its feet in the sand, it produces the aptly named Vin des Sables, marked by a subtle salinity. Guided tours of the vineyard and wine tasting are available. In addition to wine, the vineyards of the Bas-Armagnac region of Landes produce the famous Armagnac, golden and suave. Floc de Gascogne, a flowery aperitif made from two-thirds fresh grapes and one-third young armagnac, is created from this eau-de-vie.
