Wines of Bordeaux - Find your Style

Bordeaux is most renowned for its exceptional red wines, usually made from blends of the classic varietals of the region: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Looking beyond the classics, Bordeaux has plenty to offer from contemporary reds to unexpected cuvées. Fruiter, fresher, and with a new character – this new generation of Bordeaux reds reflects their terroir, the personalities of the winemakers who create them and the ongoing changes in vineyard practices across the region. 

It may come as a surprise, but the Bordeaux region has always produced white wines – in fact, until 1970 the production of whites was even higher than that of reds. Today, over two thousand winemakers, many of whom run smaller estates, continue the thousand year old white wine tradition throughout the entire Bordeaux region. 

Bordeaux whites offer excellent balance, with impeccable smoothness and aromatic power – reflecting the freshness of the Atlantic Ocean and its strong winds, combined with delicious citrus notes. Sauvignon Blanc is usually dominant in the blend, most often teamed with Sémillon and Muscadelle. From refreshing, lively and fruity wines designed to drink young to well-structured wines with great aromatic persistence, Bordeaux’s dry whites are easy to pair with food, or enjoyed as an aperitif. 

If you’re new to Bordeaux as a region, or want to be more certain when searching the shelves for something you’ll love, knowing the geography of the region can be a real help.

Bordeaux is divided by the Garonne and Dordogne rivers, to create a Left Bank and a Right Bank. The domains on the Left Bank tend to be much bigger, with the average being around 100 hectares, in comparison to closer to 10 hectares over on the Right Bank. Of course, the more hectares of vineyard, the more wine produced, hence Left Bank wines tend to be less ‘rare’ than their Right Bank counterparts.

On the Left Bank, the Médoc, Graves and Pessac Léognan offer savoury, perfumed reds with Cabernet Sauvignon being the dominant grape. This sub-region is also home to Sauternes, more well known name for its sweet whites. Thanks to its proximity to the Ciron, a stream that creates the perfect microclimate for botrytis, the naturally occurring process required for dessert wines. Liquid gold in a bottle, these wines are aromatically complex with incredible ageing capacity.