A Wine Tour of Bordeaux and Provence
Luxury Defined visits two of France’s most celebrated wine regions
French wines continue to be the gold standard by which wines around the globe are rated. France has been honing this art since the Greeks and Romans introduced vines to what was then Gaul. The country’s diverse climate and topography account for the sweeping spectrum of wines produced there. Red, white, rosé, sparkling, opulent, austere, or fruity, France has a wine to charm any oenophile. The country established the Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) in 1936 with strict growing regulations and defined grape regions to protect the quality and sterling reputation of its wines.
BORDEAUX
The Bordeaux region in southwestern France is 126,000 hectares in size and is commonly divided into two sections, the Right Bank and the Left Bank of the Gironde Estuary. Of the 57 appellations that make up the AOC Bordeaux there are some notables that stand out. On the Right Bank, the Saint-Émilion and Pomerol appellations are just north of the Dordogne River. The Right Bank terroir tends to favor Merlot and Cabernet Franc and only small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon. The same is true for the large Entre-Deux-Mers region that makes up the majority of the Right Bank and historically was known for its dry white wine as well as large quantities of red wine labeled as Bordeaux AOC or Bordeaux Supérieur. The Left Bank region of Médoc, roughly 60 kilometers in length, has an oceanic microclimate ideal for the Cabernet Sauvignon that prospers on its terroir. This region boasts four of the most famous winemaking communes in Bordeaux: St-Estephe, Pauillac, St. Julien, and Margaux, which are justifiably renowned throughout the world. Also on the Left Bank are the Graves, Pessac-Léognan, and Sauternes appellations.
In his first auction in 1766, James Christie sold a nobleman’s collection of “high Flavour’d clarets” for a total of £125. Two hundred years later, claret continues to be the cornerstone of Christie’s wine auctions, with some large format bottles realizing over $100,000. Emperor Napoleon III chose Bordeaux vintages to represent France’s greatness to the world at the Exposition Universelle de Paris in 1855, and Bordeaux continues to be the standard bearer for excellence in wine. The natural geographic features presented in the Bordeaux region and a rich history have defined the success of Bordeaux wines, making them synonymous with prestige, quality, and distinction.
Bordeaux at a glance: The world’s premier wine region, Bordeaux lies in the Gironde department of the Aquitaine region in Southwestern France. Bordeaux is divided into 38 subregions with 57 appellations, which are categorized as Medoc & Graves, Cotes de Bordeaux, Dry White Bordeaux, Saint-Émilion, Pomerol and Fronsac, and Sweet White Wines. The designated red grape varieties in Bordeaux are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Carmenere, while the white varieties grown largely consist of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.
Don’t Miss: A visit to Bordeaux would not be complete without a tour of at least one of the region’s five famous First Growth châteaux vineyards—Haut-Brion, Lafite Rothschild, Latour, Margaux, and Mouton-Rothschild. The historic port city of Bordeaux is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site for its rich cultural heritage and magnificent Neoclassical architecture, boasting more protected buildings than any French city outside Paris. Bordeaux offers a host of attractions as well as exclusive shopping, dining, and lodging. Among the five-star hotels are La Grande Maison and Le Grand Hotel Intercontintenal. Dining in Bordeaux is second to none; for a Michelin-star experience, visit Gordon Ramsay’s brand-new Le Pressoir d’Argent at the Grand Hotel, Restaurant Joël Robuchon at La Grande Maison, and the La Grand’Vigne at Les Sources Caudalie hotel and spa in nearby Martillac.
Getting here: The Bordeaux wine region is served by Bordeaux-Mérignac international airport, located six miles southwest of Bordeaux city center. Alternatively, the TGV high-speed train offers a direct three-hour service from Paris to Gare de Bordeaux-Saint-Jean.
PROVENCE
Provence is best known for famously vibrant rosé. Made from red grapes, it has the character of a red wine and the crispness of a white. Rosé is especially popular in the summer months served chilled and best sipped on a patio overlooking the ancient stone castles, lavender fields, and olive groves of the land that produced it. Provence is famous its rugged geography, joie de vivre, and the intense light that inspired the Impressionist painters who traveled here to capture its magnificence on canvas. The serene Provence lifestyle embodies the region’s natural bounty and artistic heritage and its wines are known for being fresh, easy to drink, and approachable.
Provence has eight major wine regions with AOC designations focusing on the small production of white wine, very spicy and full-bodied red wines and rosé. The Luberon Massif, in central Provence, has long drawn French high society to the “Golden Triangle” of picturesque villages, including Arles, Aix, and Avignon. Known internationally for wine is the Côtes du Rhône area immediately to the north. The region surrounding Saint Rémy-de-Provence is famous in part for its association with Van Gogh, who painted his famous Starry Night and Self-Portrait here. Provence has a classic Mediterranean climate consisting of mild winters, warm summers, and little rainfall, with added northern mistral winds.
Provence at a glance: At the southeastern tip of the country, Provence is the oldest wine region in France. Today, the Provencal viticultural region comprises eight distinct wine regions or AOC, which span from Côte de Provence in the south to Coteaux de Pierrevert in the north. The main grape varieties of red and rosé wines are Mourvèdre, Syrah, Cinsault, Grenache, and Tibouren, while key white varieties include Rolle, Ugni Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Marsanne, and Roussanne.
Don’t miss: There are approximately 540 vineyards in the Provence wine region. Château Vignelaure in Rians, Clos Mireille-Domaines Ott in La Londe-les-Maures, and Château de Chausse in La Croix Valmer rank among the most respected wine estates. The region is also famous for its unique Provençal cuisine. For a taste of the Mediterranean, try the three-Michelin-starred Le Petit Nice-Passedat in Marseille. One of Europe’s most famous resorts, Saint-Tropez is home to the three-star La Vague d’Or at the Residence de la Pinede and glamorous Le Club 55 on Pampelonne beach. Exclusive resorts and spas can be found across the region. Hotel Crillon de Brave in Vaucluse and Domaine De La Baume in Haute-Var are top-ranked resorts surrounded by the Provençal countryside.
Getting here: Provence is served by four international airports: Avignon in the west and Marseille, Toulon-Hyeres, and Nice-Cote-d’Azur on the Mediterranean coast. By rail, the TGV offers a direct high-speed service from Paris to Marseilles, Nice, Avignon, and Aix-en-Provence.
