The White Grapes of Bordeaux
- Sauvignon Blanc. Sauvignon Blanc makes up about 45% of white grapes in Bordeaux. ...
- Sémillon. The other most popular grape in Bordeaux is Sémillon, which also makes up about 45% of white Bordeaux grapes.
- Muscadelle. ...
- Sauvignon Gris. ...
- Colombard. ...
- Ugni Blanc. ...
- Merlot Blanc. ...
Full Answer
What are the 5 grapes in a French Bordeaux?
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
- Cabernet Franc
- Petit Verdot
- Malbec
- Tannat (I think)
- Carmenere
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Semillon
What are the 5 grapes used in red Bordeaux?
Red Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère. Today Carménère is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon, a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines.
What grapes are used in Bordeaux wines?
- Cabernet Sauvignon is the powerhouse grape of Bordeaux.
- Merlot is the supple, elegant grape in the mix.
- Cabernet Franc comes to the mix bringing additional smoothness.
- Think of Malbec as adding the artist's touch to a bottle of Bordeaux; it's used for its dark, rich color.
What to expect during the grape harvest in Bordeaux?
Around the World, the 2020 Wine Harvest May Be Most Troubled Ever
- California. Let’s start with the part of the world that currently looks scariest. ...
- Oregon. Conditions in Oregon are unprecedented, with fire and smoke drift threatening every wine-producing region in the state, according to the Oregon Wine Board.
- Alsace. ...
- Bordeaux. ...
- Burgundy. ...
- Champagne. ...
- Loire Valley. ...
- Rhone Valley. ...
- Italy. ...
- Spain. ...
What grape is used for Bordeaux wine?
As a refresher, currently, Bordeaux allows six red grape varieties — Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Carmenere, and Petit Verdot — and eight white varieties — Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Muscadelle, Colombard, Ugni Blanc, Merlot Blanc, and Mauzac.
What is the main grape in Bordeaux?
Merlot is the most planted red wine grape in Bordeaux.
What are the 5 noble grapes of Bordeaux?
When speaking to Bordeaux or Bordeaux-style wines, the Noble Grapes are: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. These 5 grapes make the world's most coveted red blend wine the world over; Red Bordeaux.
What are the 3 primary white grapes grown in Bordeaux?
The reds rely primarily on three grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Petit Verdot, Malbec and Carmenère are also permitted, but their popularity here has waned in recent decades. Bordeaux's white and dessert wines are based on Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc, along with Muscadelle and other varieties.
What are the 6 Bordeaux grapes?
The six Bordeaux Varietals include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and occasionally Carménère. Bordeaux blends are made up of differing combinations of these grapes, all of which bring unique characteristics to their wines.
Is Malbec a Bordeaux grape?
Malbec (pronounced [mal. bɛk]) is a purple grape variety used in making red wine. The grapes tend to have an inky dark color and robust tannins, and are known as one of the six grapes allowed in the blend of red Bordeaux wine....MalbecGrape (Vitis)Malbec grapesColor of berry skinBlackSpeciesVitis vinifera4 more rows
What grape is in Chateauneuf du Pape?
Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a historic village between the towns of Orange and Avignon, in France's southern Rhône Valley. It is famous for powerful, full-bodied red wine, largely made from the classic southern Rhône grape trio of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre.
Is Bordeaux the same as Merlot?
Bordeaux (“Bore-doe”) refers to a wine from Bordeaux, France. Over 90% of Bordeaux wines are red wines made with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. This article will introduce you to Bordeaux wine including tasting notes, food pairing suggestions, and key details to know.
Is Bordeaux the same as Cabernet Sauvignon?
A Bordeaux can be a Cabernet Sauvignon but a Cabernet is often not a Bordeaux. Welcome to the complex world of wine names. One of the most common mistakes wine consumers make when order or purchasing wine is not understanding the difference between these two types of popular wines.
Does Bordeaux produce Chardonnay?
There is now a Chardonnay from Bordeaux: that is not a typo. Château Angelus co-owner Hubert de Boüard has released his first 200 cases of Chardonnay from grapes grown near Lalande-de-Pomerol.
Is Bordeaux a Pinot Noir?
Bordeaux also tends to be big and bold in flavor, unlike Burgundy, which is made from the thin-skinned, finicky pinot noir grape. The stylistic differences in the wines are mirrored in the very different vibes of the two regions. Bordeaux abounds in vast estates fronted by big, showcase châteaux.
What is the most planted white grape in Bordeaux?
Sauvignon Blanc is the most widely planted white grape in Bordeaux and up until the 1970s it was the widest grown grape, ahead of Merlot before styles in wine changed in Bordeaux.
What grape is in Chateauneuf du Pape?
Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a historic village between the towns of Orange and Avignon, in France's southern Rhône Valley. It is famous for powerful, full-bodied red wine, largely made from the classic southern Rhône grape trio of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre.
What are the main grapes of Burgundy?
In Burgundy, four main grape varieties are grown. The "red" grape varieties are Pinot Noir and Gamay. The "white" varieties are Chardonnay and Aligoté. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the most common.
What grape is Médoc?
Of the grape varieties permitted by INAO in Médoc, 50% of the viticultural area is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and to a lesser extent Petit Verdot and Malbec (locally called "Côt").
Is Syrah a Bordeaux grape?
The quick answer is neither. Shiraz is the name of a grape (also known as Syrah), and you'll see that name on some bottles of wine made from that grape.
Two Bordeaux signatures!
Six main varieties, three red and three white, are used for winemaking in Bordeaux. In-depth knowledge of the soils has made it possible to alter the choice of varieties to make the most of the aromatic dimension of the wines.
Become an expert in grape varieties
Take part in entertaining and interactive workshops by the Bordeaux Wine School to understand the subtleties of Bordeaux grape varieties.
History
The wine was introduced to the Bordeaux region by the Romans, probably in the mid-1st century, to provide wine for local consumption, and wine production has been continuous in the region since then.
Climate and geography
The major reason for the success of winemaking in the Bordeaux region is an excellent environment for growing vines. The geological foundation of the region is limestone, leading to a soil structure that is heavy in calcium.
Grapes
Red Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère. Today Carménère is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon, a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines.
Viticulture and winemaking
The red grapes in the Bordeaux vineyard are Merlot (62% by area), Cabernet Sauvignon (25%), Cabernet Franc (12%) and a small amount of Petit Verdot, Malbec and Carménère (1% in total). The white grapes are Sémillon (54% by area), Sauvignon blanc (36%), Muscadelle (7%) and a small amount of Ugni blanc, Colombard and Folle blanche (3% in total).
Wine styles
The Bordeaux wine region is divided into subregions including Saint-Émilion, Pomerol, Médoc, and Graves. The 60 Bordeaux appellations and the wine styles they represent are usually categorized into six main families, four red based on the subregions and two white based on sweetness:
Wine classification
There are four different classifications of Bordeaux, covering different parts of the region:
Commercial aspects
Many of the top Bordeaux wines are primarily sold as futures contracts, called selling en primeur. Because of the combination of longevity, fairly large production, and an established reputation, Bordeaux wines tend to be the most common wines at wine auctions.
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
French ampelographer Pierre Galet referred to the Cabernet Sauvignon grape as "the greatest of the noble French grape varieties". 3 Galet, Pierre, Grape Varieties and Rootstock Varieties, Oenoplurimedia sarl. Chaintré, France, 1998, p. 67. High quality wine has been produced from the Cabernet Sauvignon grape for more than 300 years in France.
MERLOT
Little is known about the origin of Merlot, but the variety first appears in French literature at the end of the 18th century. Various synonym names used in the past suggest several possible origins for the name of the variety.
CONCLUSION
The black grapes of Bordeaux described in this chapter have been used to make quality wines for centuries. The FPS foundation grapevine collection contains many diverse selections from which to choose. The sixth black grape of Bordeaux is Malbec, which is profiled in the following Chapter.
Footnotes
2 Sullivan, Charles L., A Companion to California Wine (University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, California, 1998), at p. 211.
