The Graves region is located south of the city of Bordeaux, between the Landes forest and the Garonne River (both of which have a tempering influence on the climate). This is the only French appellation to be named after its soil. Called Las Grabas de Bourdeus in the local dialect, this literally translates as "Bordeaux gravel".
Winegrowing began spreading in the Graves region as far back as the Middle Ages, taking advantage of the fact that Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine, was also the Queen of England, which did much to foster trade between Bordeaux and London. Influential people from the Graves such as Pope Clement V (whose family owned a vineyard at Château de Roquetaillade) sold their wines far and wide, from Oxford to Rome.
The Entre-Deux-Mers region, a large triangle of rolling hills extending southeast of the city of Bordeaux between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers, owes its name to the influence of the ocean tides on the two rivers that frame it. Gallo-Roman remains scattered throughout the area bear witness to the ancient origins of vineyards in the Entre-Deux-Mers. As early as the 10th century, the abbey in La Sauve Majeure planted vines and helped to expand and develop the reputation of local vineyards.
The many reminders of the area's past help to make the local countryside even more attractive: medieval abbeys, Romanesque churches, ancient ruins, and châteaux set amongst green hills.
Cadillac is a textbook example of a "bastide" village, typical of this area, with its fortified gateways, ramparts, and central square surrounded by arcades. The Duke of Epernon built his sumptuous palace here, the only example of early 17th century architecture in the Gironde.
Starting in the 17th century, the alliance between winegrowers and négociants, many of whom were foreigners, led to a thriving wine-based economy.
You will arrive at the "Port de la Lune" (Port of the Moon), which has welcomed trading vessels from around the world since ancient times. The port greatly facilitated the growth of the wine trade and helped to finance the building of the city's remarkable 18th century monuments such as Place Royale (present-day Place de la Bourse), the Grand Théâtre (present-day Opéra de Bordeaux), the Allées de Tourny, Rue Saint James and the 15th Century "Grosse Cloche" bell tower etc.Each district of the city bears witness to history in its own way: the Saint-Pierre district was the site of the original Gallo-Roman port (Burdigala), Saint-Michel church is famous for its Gothic spire, the Saint-Eloi district is criss-crossed with picturesque narrow streets, and the City Hall district includes Saint-André Cathedral and the Palais Rohan. A major urban renewal plan has beautified the city's quays and a 4 km walk along the riverside with its many boutiques is now a very enjoyable experience.
You will be staying in the heart of the capital not only of the Gironde department, but also the entire Aquitaine region. Bordeaux was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007 thanks to its impressive, well-preserved architecture.
This region is located north-east of Bordeaux, on the right bank of the Garonne. The vineyards in and around Bourg-sur-Gironde are among the oldest in Bordeaux (1st century BC). The hillsides overlooking the Dordogne river and Gironde estuary are dotted with Romanesque churches, villages with beautiful stone houses, and famous archaeological sites.
The beautiful flower-lined road along the river leads to the Blaye fortress, designed by the famous military architect Vauban. This region bordering the estuary has been home to numerous writers and poets. Blaye is classified a UNESCO World Heritage site, as are nearby Fort Paté (built on an island of the same name in the middle of the estuary) and Fort Médoc, the last part of a three-point defence system to protect Bordeaux from possible invaders.
The Médoc peninsula is located north-west of the city of Bordeaux, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on its western side. The Médoc's outstanding soil produces some of the most illustrious wines in the world, including Grands Crus listed in the famous 1855 classification and a number of Crus Bourgeois. The Médoc wine country is enormously charming. It features numerous churches and grand châteaux of varying architectural styles that have delighted visitors for centuries. Tasting a fine wine of infinite subtlety in a luxurious cellar is an unforgettable experience.
Symbolising the prosperity and prestige of local wine growing families, splendid world-famous châteaux such as Lafite Rothschild are found all along the main road through the Médoc. The fines wines of the Médoc were appreciated by French nobility as long ago as the reign of King Louis XV.
The right bank of the Dordogne is also famous for its wines, and is a region of great natural beauty. The medieval village of Saint-Emilion is the first winegrowing region to have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site by virtue of its "cultural landscape".
Nicknamed "the hill of a 1,000 wines", Saint-Emilion is renowned not only for its legendary wines, but also for its incredibly charming, well-preserved medieval village. The latter is built atop a natural amphitheatre, and is a veritable open-air museum with numerous monuments and vestiges going back centuries. Time seems to stand still in the village's steep narrow streets. Several of Saint-Emilion's monuments are, in fact, underground, including the largest monolithic church in Europe. The town has over 70 hectares of subterranean galleries that were dug out of solid limestone from the 8th to the 12th centuries.
Although quite small, the Pomerol appellation produces some of the Right Bank's most sought-after wines.
Aquitaine Croisieres - Lieu-dit la Pacheyre
33190 BASSANNE (Bordeaux - Sud-Ouest - France)