Without the presence of the Gulf Stream current, which warms the Northern Atlantic all the way to Norway, according to its latitude Bordeaux would be just as cold as New York. However, this is not the case. The summer heat and the beautiful fall season allow its grapes to ripen to perfection. Though the vineyards are shielded from the salty breezes of the nearby Atlantic by the largest pine forest in Europe, the ocean still tempers the summer heat and provides much needed rain for the vineyards. The large estuary of the Gironde, which extends more than 100 km inland, also contributes to the temperate weather conditions. This same poise and harmony are found in the region’s wines. While they are bursting with sunlight, they are neither overly exuberant nor overly heavy, and instead strike the perfect balance between the two.

Bordeaux, like its climate, is a transitional city. It is essentially part of both the north and the south of France. The period of English rule during the Middle Ages granted it a certain sense of composure and class, and from its commercial dealings with the Hanse and the Netherlands it has retained its professionalism and openness to the world. From the time of Louis XIV, it has maintained its straight-lined, traditional architecture, which can be seen in its numerous castles built of pale stone. However, Bordeaux also moves to a Latin beat. It is a city of good food and celebration, as its population originated from all over Aquitaine, which borders Spain, and it is closer to Bilbao and Toulouse than it is to Paris.

Bordeaux’s mosaic of different types of land comes from two main sources. On the left bank of the Garonne and along its estuary for more 150 km, the soils are primary alluvial. These soils are particularly special as they contain polished river stones called graves that were carried downriver more than 600 km from the Pyrenees. They are contained in warm, well-drained terraces that perfectly suited for growing grapes, and particularly for Cabernet Sauvignon. On the other side of the river, the landscape is more rounded and earthy, with clay-limestone riverbanks and hills as well as deeper soils that are excellent for varieties like Merlot. These soils are both alluvial and sedimentary and contain a significant amount of limestone.