Every wine region is unique, but Bordeaux has its own special place in the imagination. Itâs not the cradle of wine â many believe Georgia has that distinction â but it is the spiritual home of wine just as Hollywood is the home of film. This vast and infinitely varied corner of France epitomizes wine, even to those who have never pulled a cork.
Weâve tried to cater for every type of visitor to Bordeaux, whether youâre a connoisseur wanting the coolest place with the best wine list, or just wine-curious.
Here youâll find Michelin-starred restaurants and brilliant wine bars, dozens of chĂąteaux to visit, to stay in or to dine in, wine shops, wine routes and much more.
This is a book for anyone who wants not just to visit but to know and love the greatest wine region on Earth.
Bordeauxâs classification systems
First Growths, âSuper Secondsâ, Thirds, Fourths and Fifths â what does it all mean, and why does it matter?
ChĂąteau Latourâs iconic tower
The 1855 classification
Arguably the best-known and most important wine classification in the world, the 1855 (as itâs known) has stood the test of time.
Although the 1855 is often criticized for being outdated (itâs remained almost unchanged for 170 years), whenever some enterprising wine merchant crunches the numbers according to how well the wines perform in todayâs market, the result is a surprisingly similar list.
Although the 1855 is often criticized for being outdated (itâs remained almost unchanged for 170 years), whenever some enterprising wine merchant crunches the numbers according to how well the wines perform in todayâs market, the result is a surprisingly similar list.
Accurate or outdated, the 1855 remains a hierarchy of excellence for Bordeaux lovers all over the world.
There is really no such thing as a âtypicalâ Bordeaux. The differences between the terroirs of the appellations is so marked â the gravel of the Graves compared to the clay and limestone of St-Emilion, say â itâs no wonder the wines are distinct in terms of style, taste and texture. Here we look at the character of the communes from north to south and east to west.
ChĂąteau Potensac is a star here, with the reliable Patache dâAux, La Tour de By, Fleur La Mothe and the lesser-known Clos Manou all excellent value-picks.
At around 1 hour 10 minutes by car from Bordeaux city, a drive up to St-EstĂšphe is really only worth it if youâre an outdoor enthusiast and want to explore the appellationâs famous chĂąteaux with stunning views of vines with the Gironde estuary as a backdrop. Beyond Cos dâEstournelâs La Maison dâEstournel, a fabulous hotel and restaurant (with an 18-metre heated pool and electric bikes to hire), there are limited dining and accommodation options so pack a picnic before you go.
The drive may be long but itâs also incredibly scenic and will take you up the famous D2 Route des ChĂąteaux past many a picture perfect moment. Boating, fishing or bird watching enthusiasts will also enjoy the charms of St-EstĂšphe and its neighbouring town of Pauillac.
Bordeaux cast off its buttoned-up image long ago. In the last decade it has embraced the spirit of immersive tourism â from north to south and east to west, there are hundreds of chĂąteaux at every level offering tastings, tours and much more.
tradition with glass-fronted tasting rooms, multilingual tours, Michelin-starred dining rooms and luxurious accommodationâ
That was the situation until the early 2000s, when global demand rocketed. Suddenly, the largest fine wine district on Earth was dealing with a new type of wine lover: younger, tech-savvy and insatiably curious about the how and why of viticulture. âWe had to open our doors, share the stories of our wines, and show a different side to Lafite that was not all about men in suits and white-tablecloth restaurants,â CEO Saskia de Rothschild once said.
