Wine Production in France

Bordeaux, France is one of the most important wine producing regions in the world. Many relate French culutre to wine production and more importantly wine consumption. Learning the language is not the only way to experience French immersion in France as learning about the culture is equally significant to understand the people.

The wine in Bordeaux provides France with one third of its yearly supply. The region is dvided by districts of origin to delineate each of the wines produced in Bordeaux. The climate and soil impart distinctive characteristics upon the wine produced in these districts, however the textbook description of the wines are not always true as they also depend on the quality of the vintage and the skill of the producer.

Chateaus in Bordeaux represent a wine estate with its own winery and vineyards. E.g. Margaux and Haut-Brion. The Bordeaux region, which takes its name from its central city, has thousands of chateaus. The region's official trade organization, the Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux, report that there are 57 appellations, more than 13,000 growers harvest grapes each year, and about 9,000 chateaus bottle their own wines with an average production of 660 million bottles of wine per year. Some chateaus rise to get the attention of the world for their top quality. Some chateaus accept walk-in visitors and for some others you would need to make an appointment. Some chateaus allow visitors to taste their wine for free, some charge and some don't serve their wines at all. If you are studying in a French immersion program in Bordeaux, you can't miss the chance to taste some of the fine wines. Be sure to read about wine tasiting at the Bordeaux French school under our cultural activities section.

Most of the grapes grown in the Bordeaux region for red wine are Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, which give vigor and tannin and Merlot, which bring softness. Merlot is the most planted grape in Bordeaux, covering 50% of the wine region. White wines are made mostly from Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Muscadelle. The bottles indicate the producer's name and the origin of the wine, or its appellation.

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