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A BORDEAUX PRIMER
Foreword: This is a summary of general information about Bordeaux and its wine.
History. Vines were introduced to the Bordeaux region by the Romans, around the mid-1st century, to provide wine for local consumption. In the 12th century, the popularity of Bordeaux wines in England increased dramatically following the marriage of Henry Plantagenet and Eleanor of Aquitaine. The marriage made the province of Aquitaine part of the Angevin Empire, while creating a taxfree region. At this time, Graves was the principal wine region of Bordeaux.
The export of Bordeaux was interrupted by the outbreak of the Hundred Years' War between France and England in 1337. By the end of the conflict in 1453 France had repossessed the province, thus taking control of wine production in the region. As part of the Auld Alliance, Scots merchants were granted by the French a privileged position in the trade of claret, a position which continued largely unchanged with the cession of the military alliance between France and Scotland with the signing of the Treaty of Edinburgh. Scots trading vessels were not only permitted to enter the Gironde, but they were escorted safely to the port of Bordeaux by the French Navy; protection from Huguenot privateers.
Today: The Bordeaux region of France, centered on the city of Bordeaux, with a total vineyard area of over 120,000 hectares, is the largest wine growing area in France. Average vintages produce over 700 million bottles, ranging from large quantities of everyday table wine, to some of the most expensive and prestigious wines in the world. Bordeaux wine is made by more than 8,500 producers, over 20,000 vineyards, and 54 appellations.
TERMINOLOGY
“Clairet”. It is a word mostly utilized in England around the 17 th Century to describe the red wines from Bordeaux. Clairet is meant to mean “clear”, light. The “lightness” of the wines became so because of the overproduction that took place by the Dutch merchants moving to the area to maximize the region’s tax-free status. In the seventeenth century, Dutch traders even drained the swampy ground of the Médoc so that it could be planted with vines. Northern Bordeaux gradually surpassed Graves as the biggest production region of Bordeaux. Malbec was the dominant grape until the early 19th century, when it was overtaken by Cabernet Sauvignon production.
Classification. In 1855, as a result of a wine competition at the World Fair (Exposition Universelle ) in Paris, the châteaux of Bordeaux were classified; this classification remains widely used today. Simply, properties that sent their wines to the competition were ranked according to their quality by a panel of judges. This event is often credited for the return of quality to the Bordeaux wines.
Phylloxera. From 1875–1892 almost all Bordeaux vineyards were ruined by Phylloxera infestations. The region's wine industry was rescued by grafting native vines on to pest-resistant American rootstock.
Rioja Connection. Many wine makers began searching and eventually temporarily set up shop in several regions of Europe to make wine during the Phylloxera infestation. Most found the Rioja region of Spain to offer the best conditions to produce wine meanwhile their Bordeaux vineyards became re-established.
Allowed Grapes:
White : Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Muscadelle, Ugni Blanc, Colombard, Ondenc, Mauzac Blanc, Merlot Blanc.
Red: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Carmenere, Malbec, Petit Verdot.
Classifications. -Red Wines of the Gironde (West Bank-1855) First Growths (Premiers Crus) Second Growths (Deuxièmes Crus) Third Growths (Troisièmes Crus) Fourth Growths (Quatrièmes Crus) Fifth Growths (Cinquièmes Crus) Cru Bourgeoise Superieur Cru Bourgeoise -White Wines of the Gironde (West Bank-1955) Superior First Growth (Premier Cru Supérieur) First Growths (Premier Crus) Second Growths (Deuxième Crus) -Wines of Saint-Emilion (East Bank-1955/2012) Premiers Grands Crus Classés A Premiers Grands Crus Classés B Grands Grus Classés Grand Cru (Note: Over two hundred Saint-Émilion wines carry the description "Grand Cru", however this designation is awarded under the basic appellation rules, and not part of the formal 1955 classification.) Wines of Graves (1953) Crus Classé
M. A. de la Mata President\Alliance Wines Corp.
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