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How long is the wine history of Bordeaux?

Bordeaux is located in the southwest of France, with unique climate and geographical conditions. Facing the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Gironde River flows slowly through the territory, and the temperate maritime climate makes the weather in the producing area always so mild and smooth. Barren gravel, clay and lime soils form a complex and diverse geological structure that enables Bordeaux to produce a rich variety of wines.

Bordeaux is divided into two parts by the Garonne River from south to north, but they are not used to dividing it into east and west banks, but according to the left and right directions in terms of geographical location, it is divided into left bank and right bank. The production areas on the left bank are mainly composed of the two major production areas of Médoc and Graves, and the famous production areas on the right bank mainly include Pomerol and Saint Emilion.

The history of viticulture and winemaking in the Bordeaux region can be traced back to Roman times. Around 60 BC, the Romans ruled Bordeaux, when the area was known as Burdigala. Today, the entire Bordeaux appellation is still scattered with various monuments from the Roman period, of which the most complete and well-known is the Palais Gallien amphitheatre.

As early as the 1st century AD, Bordeaux wines already had a certain reputation. Pliny the Elder mentioned the Bordeaux planting scene in his writings. Later, fragments of amphora related to wine making were found in Pompeii. Ancient Roman ruins can be seen everywhere in the wineries and vineyards in the St. Emilion appellation. Chateau Ausone in Saint-Emilion takes its name from the Roman poet Ausonius who lived here.

Bordeaux is a veritable wine city, it has excellent natural conditions for the production of wine. The soil in the region is very unique, composed of a mixture of various soil types, which is very suitable for the growth of vines. The convenient water transportation of the Garonne provides great convenience for the transportation of wine. The Gironde River connects with the Atlantic Ocean, creating excellent conditions for the ocean transport of wine. The first wines in Bordeaux were probably made from grapes from the vines in the Rioja region of Spain.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, with the development of wine trade, the development of Bordeaux city entered a golden age, and grapes and wine began to occupy an important position in the economy. To this day, the bunch of grape stone carvings can still be seen on many legacy buildings, telling people the glory of the year.

This period saw unprecedented development in wine production, especially the first wine grading in 1855, the discovery of the principle of alcoholic fermentation by Louis Pasteur in 1857, and the creation of the Bordeaux Wine Academy by Pasteur’s assistants, all of which greatly contributed to the Promote the development of wine production.

There are many grape varieties in Bordeaux and most of them are internationally renowned varieties. Because of the climate, in most parts of Bordeaux, it is difficult to produce a balanced wine with a single variety, so local winemakers usually have to mix different varieties to complement each other’s strengths to make the most abundant and perfect wine.

Bordeaux has 6 legal red grape varieties, namely Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Verdot, Carmenere and Malbec, and 3 legal white grape varieties, including Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Miska Dai.

In the Bordeaux appellation, in addition to the standards of the appellation designated by the Appellation of Origin Authority, there are also some grading systems for wineries in different appellations, including: 1855 Bordeaux winery rating, 1953 Graves rating, 1955 Years Saint Emilion rating and Star Chuang rating. There are 61 famous wineries in the producing area.

Médoc is the representative producing area of ​​Bordeaux wine, some people even call it “Versailles in wine”. It is located on the left bank of the Gironde River in Bordeaux near the mouth of the sea. It is the sub-region that best represents the style of Bordeaux wine, and it can be said to be the most important region. The finest wines in the world are produced here, and only red wines are produced.

The wines produced in the Bordeaux region are soft and elegant, as if they are feminine, gentle and graceful, so they are known as “the queen of wine”.