BORDEAUX WINES TO ENJOY THIS AUTUMN

Discover the best Bordeaux wines to enjoy after work or for casual moments with friends. Try light and supple Bordeaux reds, refreshing and fruity Bordeaux white, sparkling Crémant de Bordeaux with delicate bubbles or aromatic Bordeaux rosé.

Bordeaux red wines are made from dark-skinned grapes but the juice within is white (next time you have a black grape try squeezing it and see!). So the wines obtain their red colouring and tannins by extracting the latter from the skin and soaking the skins in the juice during maceration. This process of maceration provides the wine with its aroma and tannic structure.

Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon are the main red grape varieties in Bordeaux, but the last 20 years have seen the growth of Petit Verdot, Carménère and Malbec. This greater diversity of grape varieties offers new possibilities to winegrowers: it multiplies the options available for new blends.

Another striking fact – while Bordeaux is known for its art of blending,  in recent years a wave of unexpected red cuvées is sweeping through Bordeaux and captivating wine enthusiasts young and old. Easy-drinking, diverse and exceptional value, these modern red wines are making their mark on Bordeaux’s already world-renowned reputation for red wine production.

When it comes to autumn season, red Bordeaux wines are a favourite for many. An excellent wine to serve with a meat roast is a Merlot-based red Bordeaux.

Why not try a wine from Saint-Émilion where the Merlot grape is often the majority of the blend, and the full-bodied structured wines with ripe tannins will pair perfectly with your meat dishes.

While we highly recommend you surprise your guests and try a cheese board with a dry white Bordeaux wine – a perfect match – you can also stick to tradition and serve a Bordeaux red.

TASTING ADVICE :

Serve chilled at 13 – 15°C

DID YOU KNOW?

Merlot originated from the region of Aquitaine in the South of France. This grape is the main variety cultivated by wine growers from Bordeaux. And it is used worldwide. No matter where you go in the world, Merlot is the grape variety the most widely known by wine consumers.

It may surprise you, but the Bordeaux region has always produced white wines – and a lot of them are made with Sauvignon Blanc grapes! Today, 2,000 winemakers, who mostly run small estates, continue the thousand-year-old tradition of white wines in Bordeaux. And you will see, these wines will not stop surprising you!

Autumn is the season for aperitifs and barbecues with friends and family, while it is still warm enough, and light and refreshing white Bordeaux wines would make a perfect pairing here. Composed mainly of Sauvignon blanc, a grape with exceptional aromas and astonishing freshness, the dry whites of Bordeaux are the best match to your aperitifs, light starters, seafood and poultry dishes.

Seafood lover? Opt for an AOC Entre-Deux-Mers, the freshness of these wines will pair perfectly with the sea delights.

Want to surprise your guests? Offer them a white Bordeaux wine with cheese.

TASTING ADVICE :

Serve chilled at 9°C – 12°C

DID YOU KNOW?

Sauvignon blanc is the best ally of goat cheese!

Brought together by the AOC Bordeaux rosé appellation, made mostly from Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, Bordeaux rosés have experienced a real revival in the past five years under the power of a new generation of winemakers. And thanks to them, a new wave of rosés was born: clear, lively, fruity, elegant – more than enough to wake up your taste buds all year round.

It’s easy – with everything! Bordeaux rosés are suitable for all your aperitifs – seafood tapenade, fresh goat cheese, barbecue… and even any salads, such as tomato salad with burrata.

TASTING ADVICE :

Serve chilled at 8°C – 12°C

DID YOU KNOW?

We produce rosés from red grape varieties, they are being pressed gently to obtain the pale colour from the skins.

Although the Crémant appellation is one of the most recent in the Bordeaux region (1990), the production of sparkling wines in Bordeaux is a century-old tradition. With its delicate bubbles and full of freshness, Crémant de Bordeaux, is the perfect accompaniment for festive occasions or get-together with friends.

There are two types of Crémant de Bordeaux – white and rosé.

With the white, you will experience fine bubbles with aromas of citrus and white flowers. Its aromas are of lemon, hazelnut, white flowers such as acacia, buttery or toasty notes.

White Crémant de Bordeaux represents 69% of the production of Crémant de Bordeaux and involves 214 winemakers. They can be produced using all Bordeaux grape varieties, both white and red.

For the Crémant rosé, the bubbles are lively with notes of red fruit. Its aromas are similar to redcurrant, strawberry or raspberry.

Crémant de Bordeaux Rosé are made from the red grape varieties of Bordeaux: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot. Approximately 173,000 hectolitres were produced in 2019, the equivalent of 2.3 million bottles.

White and Rosé Crémants are best enjoyed with aperitifs, shellfish and red fruit desserts.

However, for white meat dishes, the white Crémant is preferable and for cheeses, the Rosé is more suitable.

TASTING ADVICE :

Serve chilled between 7°C and 11°C

DID YOU KNOW?

More than 65% of the Bordeaux vineyards are certified since 2019 by an environmental initiative such as Agriculture Biologique (Organic Agriculture), Haute Valeur Environnementale (High Environmental Value) or Terra Vitis.