Bordeaux

A wine growing region in the south west of France. Known for traditional, world class reds. It has a moderate maritime climate and is known for its Gravel soils. A river, called the Gironde, runs through the region cutting it in half vertically. Wines from the left hand side of the river (the left bank) are known for containing mainly Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. Famous wines from here include Chateau Margaux and Chateau Mouton-Rothschild. The right hand side of the river (the right bank) is known for wines made with predominantly juice from the Merlot grape. The right bank is famous for the wines of Petrus and Cheval Blanc.

The difference in the preferred grapes comes from changes in the soils each side of the river. The left bank has a soil made of gravel and so is free draining but crucially retains heat from the sun which it gently feeds back to the vines. This is useful for Cabernet Sauvignon as it is a late-ripening variety and the heat retention can help push it over the edge. The right back has more clay in the soils and the water retention properties help develop the large berry size of Merlot.