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Q.
What cultural events and sites can you enjoy in Bordeaux?

A.

Bordeaux offers a vast range of cultural activities, from opera to contemporary art. A city steeped in art and history, you can also experience Bordeaux to the rythm of its monuments and lively terrasses.

Q.
How can you stay in touch with the latest news from Bordeaux ?

A.

The What's New section gives you quick access to the latest news on Bordeaux and its wines.

Q.
What are Today's Bordeaux?

A.

Today's Bordeaux are wines selected by a professional jury for their excellent price-quality ratio.

Q.
You are expecting friends for dinner. How can you make a simple food and wine pairing?

A.

The Everything About Wine section includes a search engine that allows you to find a selection of wines to match with your meal, through a few simple clicks and accoding to your preferences.

Q.
Why are grape varieties blended? Is this practice unique to Bordeaux?

A.

Blending aims to produce a wine of better quality from wines made from complementary varieties. It requires significant know-how and has been practiced in Bordeaux for centuries.

Q.
Why are there 60 appellations in Bordeaux? Do they represent 50 different types of wines?

A.

In Bordeaux, 60 wine-producing areas have been identified and their boundaries strictly defined by decree. The Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée mentioned on the label of a Bordeaux wine guarantees quality and tipicity to consumers.

Q.
How are wines classified?

A.

Wines are or have been classified solely by impartial professionals. They establish an estate's value based on various technical and economic criteria. Certain classifications can be updated.

Q.
What does vintage mean?

A.

The vintage is the production in a given year. By extension, it is also the character of a wine produced, by definition, under unique conditions. The vintage expresses everything that touched the vineyard during the year and which you can thereafter discover in the bottle.

Q.
How does the climate affect the quality of a wine?

A.

The vine is a living organism and must adapt to its climactic environment. Temperature, rain, sun and drought influence the metabolism and quality of the grapes. Each year is different, and a single Château never produces the same wine twice.

Q.
What events made Bordeaux the wine capital of the world?

A.

The history of the port of Bordeaux allowed the city to export its wines to Northern Europe as early as the 12th Century. This resulted in the emergence of powerful merchants who secured markets in 160 countries.

Q.
Who rates the vintages?

A.

A jury of professionals (œnologists, winegrowers) establish the official Bordeaux vintage rating presented on this site.

Q.
Is understanding a wine label difficult? Are there simple tips to follow?

A.

In the Reading Wine Labels section you will find the important information to remember: the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée, the name of the producer or bottler, the mandatory mention of Bordeaux, etc.

Q.
Can you buy a good wine without asking yourself too many questions?

A.

The quality of a wine reflects the quality of the grapes. The more the vineyard has been tended with care, the better the grapes. The price of the bottle is a good indicator of the quality of a Bordeaux.

Q.
What is Bordeaux's significance in the history of France? of Europe?

A.

Bordeaux has long been the premier fine wine-producing region of France, Europe and the world. It remains so today.

Q.
Are there organisations or associations that defend the identity and reputation of Bordeaux wines?

A.

Bordeaux wines are represented and promoted by the CIVB (Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins de Bordeaux) but also by a number of producer and merchant associations. Their mission is to defend the quality, the specificity and the tipicity of each Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée.

Q.
What is the link between geology and the quality of a wine?

A.

The - very diverse - composition of Bordeaux soils has a determinative impact on the vine's nutrition and, consequently, on the quality of the grapes and, therefore, of the wine.

Q.
Does a vine require much maintenance?

A.

Yes, tending the vines requires hard work in order to produce quality grapes. The vine must be cut, pruned, and its yields controled and limited. On average, vinegrowers pass through each vineyard row 10 times during a given year.

Q.
What is the qualitative impact of wood on wine?

A.

Wood imparts additional flavours and aromas to wine. It also contributes to a wine's chemical balance, to its longevity as well as to the development of precious and complex aromas.

Q.
What are the various sectors of the wine industry?

A.

The Bordeaux wine industry is comprised of many economic sectors and professional activities, most notably vinegrowers, negociants, brokers and cooperatives.

Q.
Where can you find economic analyses and statistical data relating to the Bordeaux wine industry?

A.

In the Economics and Employment section, you will find key information and data on the industry, the production, consumption and export of Bordeaux wines.

Q.
How should you taste a wine if you are not an expert?

A.

You simply need to rely on your senses and use a bit of method. In the Tasting Bordeaux section, you can find out how to taste Bordeaux wines easily with the help of some simple and logical tips.

Q.
On what basis should you conduct a visual examination of a wine during a tasting?

A.

Colour, intensity, clarity and brightness can be important indicators of a wine, before you even smell or taste the wine.

Q.
What words are most often used to describe a wine's aromas?

A.

Fruity, floral, spicy, woody, intense or elegant are terms that are often used, but there exist as many terms as there are sensations, and they are different for everyone.

Q.
What happens when you taste a wine?

A.

A series of physical, chemical and olfactive stimulations occur. You can visit the Tasting Bordeaux section to identify and understand them easily.

Q.
Is there an ideal way to serve wine?

A.

Each wine has a story. Wine should be served so as to turn this story into a moment of pleasure. You can find some serving tips in the Tasting Bordeaux section.

Q.
Does drinking wine really have beneficial effects on your health? What does moderation mean?

A.

Wine contains many minerals and vitamins, as well as antioxydants and anticarcinogenic substances. Wine must be consumed in moderation: the WHO recommends a consumption of 2 glasses a day for women and of 3 for men.

Q.
What is a wine road?

A.

It is a designated route in the the wine-producing countryside which allows you to pass through beautiful villages and countryside and to discover many Châteaux and their wines.

Q.
Where can you find useful maps to plan a tour through these routes?

A.

The On the Wine Route section provides maps of the 5 wine routes of the Bordeaux region. The Useful Links section also provides you with links to the tourist offices and winegrowers' associations, which offer tours through the Bordeaux wine roads as well as useful information (maps, accomodations, addresses, useful phone numbers).

Q.
Where can you find an inventory of useful information to plan a trip to Bordeaux?

A.

Specialized organisations supervise and organise tourism in and around Bordeaux. You can find them in the Useful Links section.

Q.
Where can you find useful ideas, information, reviews and comments from people who have traveled to or lived in Bordeaux?

A.

The Bordeaux city hall, the Bordeaux Tourist Office and a number of specialized sites can provide you a wealth of information on Bordeaux and its surroundings. You can find them in the Useful Links section.