Bordeaux,
France Bordeaux
(bore-dough),
in
South-West France, is located in the area that was historically
known as Poitou and Aquitaine. The entire wine-growing
region lies on either side of the Gironde estuary and
of the rivers Dordogne and Garonne, which flow into
it. The town of Bordeaux itself is situated on the left
back of the river Garonne, just before it flows into
the Gironde estuary. It was once famous as a sea-port
and many famous negociants still have their offices
on the Quais de Chartrons overlooking the dockyard.
Map
of Bordeaux
The
English word Claret was coined 500 years ago to
describe the red wines of Bordeaux.
Think
of the hierarchy of wine-growing geography in this fashion.
At the top are regions - which are areas in France -
Bordeaux, Champagne, Burgundy, Rhone Valley, Loire valley
and Languedoc-Rousillion. Each region is further divided
into districts. A district could further be divided
into communes-which are communities that grow wine.
Within each commune are Chateaux, vineyards, clos or
properties.
Bordeaux
itself is divided into thirty five wine districts,
but five of them stand out above all others. These
are :
