Blaye-côtes de Bordeaux the PDO with 1,000 assets
If you have the chance to discover older vintages, you may still come across its former name “Premières Côtes de Blaye”. But its profile hasn’t changed one bit: a wide range of wines which are affordable, easy to drink and perfect for sharing. Welcome to the Blaye – Côtes de Bordeaux PDO.
What is the Blaye – Côtes de Bordeaux wine region?
Key points to remember
- 340 estates and 2 cooperative cellars spanning 4,500 hectares and 40 communes.
- Vines perched above the Gironde Estuary and mainly planted on slopes, which inspired the name of the appellation. Here, the sun beats down and the ocean spray from the Gironde Estuary adds its own distinctive touch. The terroirs are both rich and varied (as explained below!).
- Estates on a human scale, covering 17 hectares on average and passed down from one generation to the next. Behind each château you will find passionate winegrowing families, who put their heart and soul into their wines.
Why do people love Blaye – Côtes de Bordeaux and its wines?
- Because the appellation guarantees excellent value for money and never fails to please. And that’s great!
- Because here, both hospitality and high-quality vines are nurtured
- Because there are Blaye – Côtes de Bordeaux wines to suit all tastes
- Because local winegrowers stay true to their roots while not being afraid to innovate in the vineyard and cellar. Bordeaux is witnessing a revival!
- Because 93% of vineyards are certified by an environmental strategy and 35% are grown organically or converting to organic agriculture
- Because you will never get bored here! From Le Printemps des Vins de Blaye (100 winegrowers in the heart of the Citadel) to the Blaye Wine Marathon, vineyard strolls, brunches in the vineyards and live music nights at estates… the choice is yours!
- Because in between two glasses, you can enjoy other historic gems, such as the Citadel of Blaye or the Gallo-Roman villas of Plassac
What is the Blaye – Côtes de Bordeaux style?
Delicious, expressive and refreshing: Blaye – Côtes de Bordeaux wines appeal to everyone.
Here, the fruit really comes to the fore
The red wines are smooth and fruity, making them a pleasure to drink from the very first sip, both for connoisseurs and beginners alike.
The white wines, meanwhile, are very refreshing, displaying notes of citrus and topical fruit which are sure to delight the taste buds.
To sum up, they are perfect partners for any dish!
Which kind of wines can be found in Blaye – Côtes de Bordeaux?
Red wines account for 90% of the appellation, with dry white wines making up the rest!
As for red wines, Merlot often predominates: smooth and fruity, it is blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Malbec for greater character.
When it comes to the white wines, Sauvignon Blanc rules the roost, providing liveliness and refreshing notes of citrus. Sémillon and Muscadelle also add their own touch, bestowing roundness.
For enthusiasts like yourselves : retrouvez plus d’info sur nos cépages
Pour les gourmands : Nos accords mets-vins
Fun facts
Three fun facts you need to know about Blaye – Côtes de Bordeaux
Read on for a behind-the-scenes glimpse into this Bordeaux appellation like no other…
1.
The Blaye – Côtes de Bordeaux appellation is one of the largest in the Bordeaux wine region, spanning no less than 4,500 hectares!
2.
In the heart of the Citadel of Blaye, an organic micro-vineyard, Clos de l’Echauguette, produces 700 bottles at most each year, made exclusively from Merlot. Only a happy few have the chance to taste it!
3.
Red wines from the Blaye PDO are known as the crème de la crème of the Blaye – Côtes de Bordeaux appellation. Around a dozen or so winegrowers lovingly craft them according to highly demanding specifications that guarantee their excellent aging potential. But there is a lot more to say about them, so much so that we have given them their own page.
Let’s talk about the soil:
Blaye – Côtes de Bordeaux is home to a vast patchwork of terroirs..
Let’s begin in the west, around the city of Blaye where the predominant clay-limestone soils add structure and elegance to the wines. If you head further north, you’ll find sandy gravel soils ideal for growing Sauvignon Blanc, which fully unveils its delicate aromas. To the southeast, a patchwork of soils allows each grape variety to flourish and reach their full potential. If you had to sum up this PDO in one word, it would be diversity
Let’s travel back in time:
2009. It doesn’t seem that long ago and yet it marked a pinnacle year in the history of the appellation.
This is when the PDO abandoned its name “Premières Côtes de Blaye” to officially become “Blaye – Côtes de Bordeaux”. The reason? A desire to showcase the quality of its wines by adding the word “Bordeaux” while celebrating its location bordering the Gironde Estuary
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The PDO was not the only one to embark on this adventure. It belongs to the larger “Côtes de Bordeaux” family, alongside other appellations which also added this wording to their name (Castillon – Côtes de Bordeaux, Francs – Côtes de Bordeaux, Cadillac – Côtes de Bordeaux and Sainte-Foy – Côtes de Bordeaux). However, this grouping was nothing new, since the Côtes de Bordeaux Association was first created in 1985! All in all, long history of sharing and collective pride, which continues to showcase these wines today.
