The world's first international exhibition was held inParis In 1844 to glorify and elevate French industry – at the time, among the most developed and advanced in the world. Britain, a world power, held a similar exhibition in London in 1851, and France held another exhibition in 1855, this time dedicated to agricultural products. In preparation for the exhibition, Emperor Napoleon III wanted to emphasize French wines.
For this purpose, the “Wine Merchants Council” was called (there is such a body…) and is based in the port city. Bordeaux – France’s main wine export port – to classify and rank French wines. In the mid-19th century, wines other than those produced in southwestern France, around the city of Bordeaux, were almost unknown in the world. The “List of 1855” is the first document in history to rank any wines in an orderly, reasoned, almost scientific manner.
This is also the first list to officially seal the best French wine estates, especially reds, of the Bordeaux region. Following this list, the French Wine Institute was later founded, which regulated the laws, regulations, and names of the entire world of French wine (a topic in itself for another article).
1,160,000 hectares, 57 AOC wines (the highest wine classification), 80% red wines, 20% white wines, 9,820 wine producers, 590 million liters of wine, 55,000 employees in the industry and one phylloxera epidemic – these are the numbers of the wine industry in southwestern France (Gironde department).
Bordeaux Wine Routes
Wine was already produced here by the Romans in the 1st century BC, and they were the ones who gave the name Medoc to one of the region's prestigious wine regions (Latin, "In-Medio Aquae", "in the middle, between the waters". The wine estates lie between the Gironde River and the Atlantic Ocean coast).
The French regretfully admit that they owe the global popularity of Bordeaux wines… to the English. In the Middle Ages, a fairly light red wine, identified with the term “Rouge Bordeaux”, “red Bordeaux”, a red wine from the port of Bordeaux, dominated the scene (for the English in the Middle Ages, “red wine” is… “red wine”. They don’t bother with trifles like Merlot, Cabernet, Syrah or others…).
A wine that the English, who ruled southern France (Aquitaine) for most of the Middle Ages, called “Claret,” a corruption of the French name “Clairet,” indicating a wine that was light red (or dark pink…). The English loved this wine so much that merchants and producers, with their families, migrated to southern France to grow and develop vineyards and become closely involved in the production and marketing of wine for the English homeland (a phenomenon that was repeated centuries later with Port wine in northern Portugal, along the Douro River – a reason why wine estates with English names still exist today in southern France and Portugal).
And yet, with all the ancient and rich history of wine and the region, it was only in December 2015 that the district's tourist board announced the "Bordeaux Wine Route" - in fact, so as not to leave anyone out, 6 wine routes were announced simultaneously, characterizing different regions and districts among the wine plots:
Medoc – Route des Chateaux
This is the most prestigious route, along the provincial road number 2 (D2, Departementale) that winds almost parallel to the river and passes through all the most magnificent wine estates, names that make every wine lover close their eyes and dream... Margaux, Lafite-Rotschild, Moulis, Saint-Julien, Saint-Estephe, Mouton-Rotschild and others.
Here is a short video about the area for speakers French (Those who don't speak the language can still enjoy the views 🙂 ).
Sauternes – Route des Graves
The region is located south of the city of Bordeaux and is home to less famous wine estates, with the exception of Yquem, one of the most prestigious (and expensive) wines in the world – Brion, Lasalle, Cerons, Smith-Haut-Lafitte and others.
Here is a video that explains the difference between Medoc wines and these Sauternes:
Bastides Road
This road winds east of Bordeaux, further inland. The road is also called “Entre-Deux-Mers”, “between the two seas” because it is bordered by the two great rivers of southwestern France, the Dordogne to the northeast and the Garonne to the southwest. The emphasis in this area is more on medieval buildings, monasteries, castles and fortified churches (“Bastide” is the name for a city built in a square, its streets straight and intersecting, surrounded by a wall and entirely intended for war and stopping invading enemies). The wines in this area are lighter and fresher and are usually consumed young – the Garonne wines are not aged….
Here's a cute video I found that shows you the magic of the area:
Saint-Emilion – Middle Ages and Vines
In this small region lie two towns whose names are famous throughout the world – Saint-Emilion and Libourne. Both are picturesque and beautiful medieval towns surrounded by ancient and famous vineyards from which some of France’s greatest wines are produced – Pomerol, Fronsac, Petrus.
Here is a short video about the village of Saint-Emilion:
Cognac Road (Route de Cognac)
Like champagne – produced exclusively in the Champagne region – the alcoholic beverage produced only in the region around the city of Cognac can also be called by this name, or as its producers and enthusiasts call it – “the liqueur of God”. All others, produced by the same process – are “just” brandy. The region is located north of Bordeaux and, in fact, stretches from the city of Saintes to Angoulême.
Cognac was invented in the 16th century when someone came up with the idea of distilling wine a second time, to increase its alcohol content. It is made from white grapes, usually the Ugni-Blanc variety, which undergo pressing and fermentation for only 5 days. After that, the raw wine is distilled in an alembic made entirely of copper (any other material infuses flavors into the distilled liquid. Alembic = traditional distillation vessel with boiling. Pictured).
The first distillation brings the wine to an alcohol concentration of 28-30%. After cooling, the drink undergoes another distillation – up to 60-70% alcohol. The finished drink is transferred to French oak barrels for an aging process, during which the cognac will absorb its characteristic golden wood color (the distillers add a little caramel to the barrel to enhance the hue).
During the 10-year aging period, the drink loses alcohol, down to a concentration of about 40%. When the “Master of the Barrels” (Maitre de Chais, the nickname of the person in charge of the winery, the drink mixer) decides that the drink has finished aging and has reached its optimal age, the production process begins. Using water and old cognac drinks from previous years, the new cognac is mixed in precise and measured quantities and doses until a drink with the desired taste is stabilized.
The age of the final cognac is determined by the age of the youngest ingredient in the blend. The minimum time for aging cognac is 3 years (defined by law, to obtain the first degree, VS, Very Special). But between us, a Frenchman – and any true connoisseur – will not drink a 3-year-old cognac…. The real count only begins after 6 years, and the more – the better.
There are about 200 cognac producers in the area, and the big names here are Hennessy, Martell, Tesseron, Rémy Martin, Otard, Courvoisier, and other famous names, which shake every vein in the hearts of drinkers, shocking every heart at the sight of the plump glass, with its short stem, in which there is a small puddle of a golden-orange drink that exudes a divine scent….
The “Cognac Producers Association” created the winding path between the various producers and wineries, accompanied by tastings – be careful, this is not a 12% wine! – in 1996. The path passes between wineries and vineyards, with explanations of the production processes and especially the aging, accompanied by tastings, in which the difference between a 3-year-old cognac and a 20-year-old can be clearly illustrated.
Planning a trip along the Bordeaux and Cognac wine route
If everything you've read makes you want to travel and hike the Bordeaux or Cognac wine route, I'd be more than happy to build you a perfect trip tailored to your needs and interests. All you need to do is contact me via email at yossi.drory@gmail.com.
If you would like to plan the trip yourself, here is some logistical information that can help you:
Flight to Bordeaux
Fortunately, there have been direct flights to Bordeaux for several years now. This allows you to pick up your car from the airport and start traveling, or even spend a few days in the city of Bordeaux itself before setting off on a trip.
So if you haven't bought a plane ticket yet, you are welcome to read the This article. There you will find a list of the best sites for booking a flight ticket to Bordeaux, and with their help you can find the cheapest and most convenient flights.
Car Rental
It is not possible to travel between wineries and small villages without using a car because the buses in the area are quite rare and slow. Therefore, it is highly recommended to rent a car in the city of Bordeaux itself or at the airport (if you are not interested in renting a car, keep reading because I have another option for you). If you have decided to rent a car, you are welcome to read the article Car rental in France And there you will find tips and sites that will help you rent a car at a very friendly price.
Accommodation on the Bordeaux Wine Route
The best option in my opinion is to live in Bordeaux itself, as it is a charming city where you can spend your evenings and go shopping. If you decide to take my advice, I recommend you read the article Accommodation in Bordeaux – recommended hotels and vacation apartments that I have collected for you.
If you want to live in one of the villages and towns on the Wine Route, you can live in one of the following places:
Accommodation in Cognac
The Cognac Wine Route can be visited while staying in Bordeaux (it is about an hour and a half drive away). Perhaps if you want to travel leisurely and not drive for many hours, then it is recommended that you live in Cognac itself. You can find hotels and apartments there inLink this.
Guided tours along the wine route (and beyond)
If you don't want to go through the hassle of renting a car and planning your trip, you can come to Bordeaux, stay there, and then go on a series of guided tours (both within the city and along the wine route). You can find information about all of this in the article. What to do in Bordeaux? Attractions, tours, wineries, castles, river cruises and more.