Chateau Bellegrave Pauillac

Discover Bordeaux Wines

Bordeaux wine, usually known as claret, is any of the many wines produced in the Bordeaux area of France. Red wines created from Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon account for over 90% of Bordeaux wines. Bordeaux, like Burgundy and the Rhine region, has a long history in wine culture; it was known in Roman times. During the English rule of Bordeaux, the still-functioning jurade, a regulating body dating back to the 12th century that employs its customary St. Emilion region robes for winemaking inspection, was granted a charter, first by Richard I and then by John in 1199. Claret referred to a pale wine prepared by blending red and white grapes in those days; the term is no longer used in modern French.

The contemporary Bordeaux region is one of the most important wine-producing regions in the world. The Bordeaux wine classification divides it into 36 districts, which are further divided into communes. Individual vineyards, known as châteaux in this region, are located within these communes and produce the best wines.