Entre-Deux-Mers, a great island-like terroir producing great wines
Located between the Garonne and the Dordogne, the Entre-Deux-Mers is a lovely scenic area where you can enjoy the good life – and good wines to match! Here you can taste refreshing wines crafted by winegrowers who are proud of the differences of their island-like terroir. All without artifice and with one ambition in mind, to produce high-quality wines.
What is the Entre-Deux-Mers wine region?
Key points to remember
- 1,783 hectares of vineyards spanning 133 communes and tended to by 280 winegrowers (50% independent, 50% working for cooperatives).
- A harmonious patchwork of vines, forests, grazing land, hills, rivers and small villages. The influence of the Atlantic Ocean reigns over these soils which comfortably sit atop a clay-limestone bedrock… but we’ll come back to this later.
- What are the specific characteristics of the appellation? All wines must be a blend of several grape varieties. Because here, teamwork makes the dreamwork, from vine to glass!
Why do people love Entre-Deux-Mers and its wines?
- Because this PDO is full of surprises. Long known for producing dry white wines, it has officially been producing red wines since 2023. And they are bursting with personality!
- Because its refreshing white wines sipped on a sunny terrace make for the perfect summer apéritif.
- Because its fruity and expressive red wines proudly bear the signature of those who make them.
- Because 95% of its vineyards are committed to agro-environmental strategies and respecting nature – a pledge that shows in the glass.
- Because it is home to down-to-earth, generous winegrowers who truly embody the spirit of Southwest France.
- Because all it takes is to hop on your bike and head to the Roger Lapébie cycle path to experience the joys of the slower pace of life here!
What is the Entre-Deux-Mers style?
It isn’t easy to sum up Entre-Deux-Mers wines, given that diversity comes as second nature in this appellation. But they all have one thing in common – their freshness.
A real breath of fresh air in the bottle!
Its white wines are aromatic and full of energy, but it is impossible to put them in a single box. They can be fruity or mineral, full-bodied or taught. In other words, they are as diverse as the occasions to drink them!
Meanwhile, its red wines are often fruity and complex, underpinned by refreshing tannins. Some even feature aromas of forest floor, truffle and mint, or deliciously smoky nuances.
The hallmark of Entre-Deux-Mers wines? Sharing.
What do Entre-Deux-Mers wines taste like?
Rouge ou blanc, à vous de choisir.
Red or white, it’s up to you.
Each wine showcases several grape varieties. For the whites, Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Gris add liveliness, Sémillon gives richness and Muscadelle imparts complexity. For the reds, Merlot and Cabernet Franc provide fruitiness, Cabernet Sauvignon adds structure, while Malbec and Petit Verdot confer aromatic depth.
Fun facts
Three fun facts you need to know about Entre-Deux-Mers
Whether you’re looking to impress your guests at your next dinner party or simply quench your thirst for knowledge about the Entre-Deux-Mers, we have everything covered.
1.
Is the name “Entre-Deux-Mers” a coincidence? Not at all! The Garonne and the Dordogne are called “mers”, a.k.a. “seas”, because the Atlantic Ocean tides travel upriver, creating a long rolling wave known as the “mascaret”. A magical spectacle!
2.
The fact that this PDO now produces red wines is not that surprising since historically, six red grapevines have been grown for every white grapevine in the region.
3.
In the Entre-Deux-Mers, the magnificent village of Castelmoron-d’Albret holds an unusual record as the smallest village in France, spanning only 3.5 hectares.
Let’s talk about the soil
The Entre-Deux-Mers is a vast wine region. As a result, it is home to a patchwork of soils.
En voir plus
However, clay and clay-limestone soils, containing varying degrees of gravel, are predominant, especially on the slopes. They form a subtle combination where clay adds freshness and limestone adds finesse. In other words, even the soils are special!
Let’s travel back in time
The Entre-Deux-Mers is a vast wine region. As a result, it is home to a patchwork of soils. However, clay and clay-limestone soils, containing varying degrees of gravel, are predominant, especially on the slopes. They form a subtle combination where clay adds freshness and limestone adds finesse. In other words, even the soils are special!
En voir plus
They prospered over the centuries, so much so that around 1850, there were 42,000 hectares of vineyards, planted with half red and half white grapevines. In 1937, an official decree recognized the Entre-Deux-Mers PDO for dry white wines, while the Entre-Deux-Mers PDO for red wines was not created until 2023. A small revolution? Not really. The Entre-Deux-Mers has always been a red wine terroir at heart. We only needed to wait a century for such expertise to be acknowledged, much to our pleasure!
