Bourdeaux Wines

When you think of wine, you think of France. But when you think of French wine, you're probably thinking of Bourdeaux. To get a handle on Bourdeaux's scale, you must realize that its 319,000 acres encompass 2 percent of the wine grapes in the world. Over 55,000,000 cases of wine are produced every year in Bourdeaux, and less than half of them are exported.

Bourdeaux's most defining feature is the river Garonde, the district is then generally divided into those wineries on its left bank and those on its right bank. The left bank is better suited to Merlot, while Cabernet Sauvignon does better on the right bank. These two wines are the center of Merlot's economy, but the left bank also does a brisk trade in white wine.

Of course, it would be a sign of ignorance to speak of Bourdeaux and not mention its northernmost grape-growing region. Cognac produces relatively little wine, as the grapes are made into the brandy bearing the region's name.