What Is Bordeaux Wine?

Bordeaux, France's most prestigious wine region, is renowned for producing some of the world’s most coveted red wines—celebrated for their elegance, complexity and impressive aging potential. Although red wine reigns supreme, contributing to approximately 85% of the region's total wine production, Bordeaux also produces distinguished white, rosé and sparkling wines.

This corner of Southwest France holds a special place in our hearts—it’s where Laithwaites began. Founder Tony Laithwaites spent his summer as a student in Bordeaux during the ’60s, learning about the region’s vineyards and developing a deep affection for the characterful red wines produced there.

His passion led to the birth of Bordeaux Direct in 1969, an endeavor devoted to bringing these exceptional wines from Bordeaux—and eventually from all over France—back to the U.K. in his trusty Ford delivery van. The rest, as they say, is history.

So what is Bordeaux wine, exactly?

Where Are French Bordeaux Wines Made?

Bordeaux is a haven for wine lovers, situated on France’s southwest Atlantic coast. The region is home to over 110,000 hectares of vineyards, producing over 600 million bottles of wine annually. These range from everyday table wines to the luxurious reds for which the region is famous.

Bordeaux’s winemaking history dates back to 60 B.C., during the Roman era. The Italian invaders recognized the region’s perfect climate, fertile soil and lucrative trade routes as the perfect stage for premium winemaking. Today, Bordeaux is a thriving epicenter of winemaking, home to nearly 9,000 producers scattered across 57 distinct appellations. Thanks to the Atlantic Ocean’s influence, the region enjoys mild winters and warm, occasionally capricious summers—prompting locals to keep an umbrella nearby!

Straddling the Gironde estuary, Bordeaux is split into two main regions—the “Left Bank” and the “Right Bank.” Each offers wine lovers different experiences. The Left Bank is home to some of the most prestigious appellations, including Pauillac, Margaux, St. Julien and St. Estèphe. Here you will find the iconic châteaux of Lafite, Latour, Mouton Rothschild and more illustrious estates. Its gravel soils are perfect for growing Cabernet Sauvignon (the flagship red of the Right Bank) as well as Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The Right Bank has rich clay and limestone soils, which are ideal for growing Merlot grapes (which is the main grape in most red wines here) and Cabernet Franc. It’s also home to fabled wine names like Pétrus and Le Pin.

Discover Famous Bordeaux Wines

The famous “Bordeaux blend” is made from a combination of the region’s four leading red grapes—Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Occasionally, Malbec and Carmenère make a guest appearance, too. This style is so beloved that wines are now made from a similar blend of grapes around the world—from California to Australia.

You’ll notice subtle differences depending on which Bank you select your Bordeaux blend from. On the Left Bank, Bordeaux blends are typically Cabernet Sauvignon-based, with tantalizing notes of blackcurrant, cedar, graphite, licorice and mint. These blends are sturdy and refined, with the potential to age gracefully over the decades, but often need at least 10 years to fully express all of their nuances.

Conversely, on the Right Bank, Merlot takes center stage, frequently blended with Cabernet Franc to add a refreshing touch and a savory hint of bell pepper. Merlot-based blends are more plush and opulent, presenting velvety tannins with flavors of ripe cherry, plum and fig. The finest among these can also age for decades.

White Bordeaux, or Bordeaux blanc, is a dry white wine typically made from the dynamic duo of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. Despite being less known on the global stage, Bordeaux blanc impresses with its fresh flavor profile of lemon, pineapple, peach and freshly cut grass. More premium examples are often aged in oak barrels, adding a slightly toasty note, and the most complex Bordeaux blancs wines can mature beautifully over time, developing smoky, creamy and tropical fruit hints.

Bordeaux is also home to one of France’s most famous sweet wines—Sauternes! These wines are created by blending Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon grapes (or occasionally using one of them its own) that are infected with “noble rot.” This natural process shrivels the grapes, which concentrates the flavor intensity and adds notes of apricot, honey, peach, dried pineapple, marmalade and baking spices—creating a totally unique and unforgettable tasting experience.

Bordeaux Wine Region—The Key Appellations

Right Bank Names to Know:

Pauillac is hallowed ground in Bordeaux, home to revered names, including three of the five fabled “First Growth” châteaux: Lafite, Latour and Mouton Rothschild. Benefitting from its gravel soils' natural drainage, the wines here offer an enviable balance of power, finesse, concentration and vivacity.

The wines from Margaux are famed for their silky texture, floral aroma and unmatched elegance. The area’s pebble-rich soils encourage deep root growth, which results in superior-quality grapes. It is home to First Growth Château Margaux.

Saint-Julien, with its impressive uniform gravel surface and complex underlying clay-limestone soil, is also home to exceptional estates and wines. Its reds weave together the power of Pauillac and the elegance of Margaux in captivating harmony.

Saint-Estèphe is the furthest north of Bordeaux’s most famous appellations. The wines from this area are known for their savory, earthy character and tannic profile—resulting from a slightly cooler microclimate and a gravel/clay mix in the soil.

Graves, southeast of Bordeaux city, takes its name from the deep, gravel-laden soils of the region. Though it produces a number of red Bordeaux blends, it is better-known for its dry Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon white wines, and also takes pride in being the home of the delectable sweet wine, Sauternes.

Situated just south of Bordeaux city is Pessac-Léognan, home to First Growth Château Haut-Brion. The mineral-rich gravel soils add a unique flinty character to its wines. Cabernet, Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon thrive here.

Right Bank Names to Know:

Perched on a limestone plateau on Bordeaux’s Right Bank, Saint-Émilion's chalky-clay soils are perfect for growing Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Its wines are prized for their finesse, fruity character and velvety tannins.

Just next door lies under-the-radar Côtes de Castillon, which makes wine in a similar style to those of Saint-Émilion. It’s here that Tony Laithwaite first started his journey in wine, and where he and his family run the award-winning Château La Clarière today.

The Pomerol appellation is the smallest in Bordeaux and the source of some of the most sought-after wines globally. Here, Merlot reigns supreme, and the region’s iron-rich clay soils showcase the grape’s best attributes through powerful wines of unparalleled depth. Some of the finest examples also have a significant percentage of Cabernet Franc. It’s here that you will find Pétrus, perhaps the most famous of all the Right Bank’s châteaux.

Understanding Bordeaux’s Classifications

Bordeaux is classified in more detail than any other wine region, with its 57 appellations covered by five different classifications:

1855 Classification
Saint-Émilion Classification
Graves Classification
Cru Bourgeois Classification
Médoc Cru Artisans Classification

Of these, the 1855 Classification is the most important and probably the most famous and influential wine classification in the world. The classification was created by leading Bordeaux brokers at the behest of Napoleon III for the 1855 Exposition Universelle in Paris. It grouped 57 wines from the Médoc and one from Graves—Château Haut-Brion—into a quintet of quality levels based on their market price at that time.

At the top of this hierarchy sit the five First Growths: Lafite, Latour, Margaux, Mouton Rothschild and Haut-Brion. Below them, the remaining Classed Growths are categorized into Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Growths. The hierarchy reflected the historic release prices and market demand for each château’s wines at the time. Since its creation, only one modification has been made to the classification—the elevation of Mouton Rothschild from a Second to First Growth in 1973.

Now housing 61 estates due to several châteaux subdividing, the significance of the 1855 Classification is crucial in cementing the status of the five First Growths. These estates continue to sit in a league of their own when it comes to their investment appeal. However, there has been a steady increase in demand among fine wine collectors for wines from ‘super’ second estates, including Cos d’Estournel, Leoville Las Cases and Ducru-Beaucaillou.

How To Serve Bordeaux Wine

To fully unlock the intricate, complex layers of Bordeaux wines, it’s worthwhile giving some extra thought to how you serve your Bordeaux wines.

Temperature: Central to the experience is the temperature—red Bordeaux wines are at their best around 60-64°F. If the wine is too warm, the alcohol content can overpower the other flavors, and if it’s too cold, the more subtle flavors may be hidden.

Decant before serving: Younger Bordeaux reds significantly benefit from being decanted, preferably two hours or more before serving. This process allows the wine to “breathe” with oxygen mellowing the tannins and encouraging the layers of flavors to flourish. Gently transfer the wine to a decanter and allow it to rest for at least an hour before serving.

Older Bordeaux reds can also be decanted, primarily to remove any sediment that’s built up naturally over time at the bottom of the bottle. (Older Bordeaux does not need to be decanted as far in advance of serving as younger Bordeaux.)

Pairing with food: A versatile, food-friendly wine, robust red Bordeaux wines match rich steak and lamb dishes. But if you prefer a white Bordeaux, pair it with lighter foods like seafood and goat cheese.

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What Is Bordeaux Wine?

Where Are French Bordeaux Wines Made?

Discover Famous Bordeaux Wines

Bordeaux Wine Region—The Key Appellations

Right Bank Names to Know:

Right Bank Names to Know:

Understanding Bordeaux’s Classifications

How To Serve Bordeaux Wine

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