The Gironde Department (fr. Gironde, Occitan. Gironda) and its main city Bordeaux have been living to the rhythm of growing and harvesting grapes for 2000 years. The first grape seedlings were planted in the 1st century AD by the Gallic tribe of the Bituriges (Biturigi vivisci), who founded the city of Burdigala (Burdigala) – Bordeaux (Bordeaux). Today, the vineyards of Bordeaux stretch across the territory from 500 to 542 districts of the department.
57 names for approximately 120,000 hectares of vineyards, what more can be said? Nowhere in the world will you find such a numerous family: red wines, white, dry, semi-sweet and sweet, rosé, claret (Claret), sparkling Bordeaux (which replaced the old sparkling wines in 1990) and strong white Bordeaux (a strong liqueur based on white grape varieties).
In red Bordeaux, the assemblage (assemblage – blending, gathering) is a delicate combination of grapes from “Merlot” (Merlot), whose taste brings softness, richness, and complexity of aromas, “Cabernet Sauvignon” (Cabernet Sauvignon), which gives the wine its stability, bouquet, and aging potential, and partly “Cabernet Franc” (Cabernet Franc), to add the finishing touch, finesse, and elegance. Sometimes, especially in Médoc (Médoc), “Petit Verdot” (Petit Verdot) is also added for greater strength, color, and richness of aroma.
The added proportions vary depending on the variety predominant for a given name, as well as the year and personal preferences of each owner. For white wines, “Sauvignon” (Sauvignon), predominant in the “Entre-Deux-Mers” (Entre-Deux-Mers) region, produces dry wines with a characteristic preserved fruit flavor. “Semillon” (Semillon) – a grape variety dominant in sweet wines, contributes to the development of so-called “noble rot” and produces golden sweet wines (harvest is only made at full ripeness during overripening, when the berries begin to dry out. During this period, the Botrytis cinerea fungus develops, resulting in increased juice concentration due to the evaporation of some water, decreased acidity, and the development of a specific aroma that is highly valued. The “Muscadelle” (muscadelle) variety brings softness and a rich floral aroma.
If we describe some mansions and castles of the Gironde department: “Yquem” (Château d’Yquem) and its fortified masonry from the 15th century, the “Château de la Salle” (Château de la Salle) in Saint-Genès-de-Blaye and the Rivière castle (Rivière) in Fronsac, both from the 16th century, most vineyard residences were born in the 18th century and took the form of a tent (Château Beychevelle), they were occasionally adorned with facades inspired by antiquity (Château Margaux). In the second half of the 19th century, the flourishing of winemaking reaches its peak, castles and winemakers’ houses are constructed and rebuilt in various architectural styles inspired by past centuries: Medieval, Gothic, Renaissance, Neo-Tudor… If the “Château Laroque” (Château Laroque) in Saint-Emilion is an excellent representative of the Late Empire style: intricate grilles, statues, and balustrades, numerous windows, then other owners succumb to more exotic influences: Louis-Gaspard d’Estournel, nicknamed “Maharaja of Saint-Estèphe” (his wines were exported as far as India) adds Asian pagodas to the roof of his Château Cos d’Estournel.
The most famous wine region of Bordeaux is Médoc (Medoc). In 1855, it was the vineyards of Médoc that were awarded the imperial classification by Napoleon III. It was conducted as part of the World Exhibition in Paris, where the greatest achievements of France were to be showcased. The main criterion for classification was the price of various wines, as it accurately reflected their quality. This classification, in the form it was adopted, is still in effect today.
The vineyards here are located in a narrow strip along the left bank of the Gironde. They have a number of features, the main one being the presence of numerous outcrops of gravel. This, along with a moderate climate and grape varieties, ensures the highest quality of Médoc wines. Only red wines are produced here from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot varieties. They are aged for several years in oak barrels, which gives the wines their characteristic taste and aging potential.
In the classification of Médoc vineyards, two sub-regional appellations and a number of communal ones were distinguished. Appellation – is a clearly defined territory, within which a unique ecosystem (climate, soil, wind, humidity) has developed and strictly defined grape varieties are cultivated. The wines of the northern part of the region are called “Médoc” (Medoc). The best vineyards of Médoc are located in that part called “Haut-Médoc” (Haut-Medoc). It is located south of Médoc and differs from it in soil quality and wine. There is more gravel and a higher proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon. Haut-Médoc wines can carry the sub-regional name – “Haut-Médoc”.
Expressing your feelings in words is the goal of tasting. Whoever finds themselves here, whether a novice or a refined connoisseur, wine tasting always involves analyzing the senses: sight, smell, and taste. Sight serves to assess the “dress” of the wine. First, we evaluate its transparency, and then note the nuances of its hue. Color is an indicator of the wine’s age and its “health condition”. Aroma allows us to determine the “spirit” of the wine, its bouquet. Enriching the wine with oxygen, it is supposed to be inhaled and sipped. The aromas released during this are classified into 9 types: fruity notes (reminiscent of apricot, black currant, banana…), vegetal notes (hay, linden, as well as smells of mold and cork!), floral notes (violet, rose, acacia…), or even chemical (when the wine exhales, sours, or oxidizes), balsamic notes (pine, resin), animal notes, mineral, spicy, or forest.
Would you like to better understand the world of grapes and wine, taste wine right in the cellar where it was born, share knowledge with a passionate winemaker? In the Gironde department, there are 473 wine estates, cooperative cellars, trading houses, and Wine Houses, united under the name “Vineyards and Cellars of Bordeaux”, which are dedicated to providing you with quality reception, visits, and tastings. Their owners can also suggest ideas for visits and tours of Gironde, closed to the uninitiated tourist.
