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1. Bordeaux Overview
Bordeaux is one of France’s most important fine wine regions, and is second in volume of production only to the Languedoc. In 2004 the total vineyard area encompassed 306,000 acres, establishing Bordeaux as France’s largest wine appellation. Red, white, rosé, sweet, and sparkling wines are produced.
Although evidence of wine production near the Garonne dates back to the 4th century AD, the Dutch provided the framework for the Médoc’s eventual dominance by creating a complex series of drainage channels throughout the area, making it suitable for viticulture in the mid-1600s. From 1152 to 1453 Bordeaux was ruled by England. A pre-existing English thirst for claret, supplanted by the important Dutch trade market, gave Bordeaux an advantage in international distribution. As the marshes became habitable, the wealthy noblesse de la robe followed, establishing the great châteaux foremost in modern wine markets. The historical rise and commercial success of Bordeaux is fundamentally linked to the region’s importance as a center of trade, made possible by its proximity to the Atlantic.
As the business of Bordeaux expanded, the disconnection between consumer and producer widened. In the 18th century a merchant class emerged with the resources to store and sell wine on a commercial scale. Traditionally, négociants acted as one type of intermediary, buying fruit or wine in barrel to age in their own cellars before selling the bottled wine. Courtiers—brokers of wine—became a powerful force in the Médoc, supplying the châteaux with financial backing while gaining total control over the actual trade of wine. While the négociants faded in influence after World War II with the rising appeal of estate bottling, the courtiers of Bordeaux maintain their authority over the trade, and are responsible for the current method of en primeur sales, the yearly offering