4/25/2024 0 Comments Dordogne map bordeaux franceNégociants based their selection on reputation, the grandeur of the château, and (with higher cost seen as a positive factor) price. In Bordeaux, wine brokers called négociants developed a classification system for wines. He ordered the creation of a new classification for the best wines of Bordeaux, possibly in part to showcase them to international visitors. In 1855, Napoleon III held the Exposition Universelle de Paris. Today, Bordeaux has many ‘classified’ châteaux, largely referring to the famous 1855 classification. The 19th Century was a seminal moment for Bordeaux and its global renown. The wines of Chateau Lafite and Latour soon fetched record-breaking prices, while Graves (excluding Haut-Brion) faded into the background.īordeaux’s 19th Century Global Renown and the 1855 Classification The wealthiest families, including the Rothschild banking dynasty, rushed to invest in Medoc real estate. Thanks to their proselytizing, the region quickly established a reputation for excellence in northern Europe. Suddenly, the land was suitable for human habitation and, more importantly, the cultivation of vines. ![]() They invested in the untapped potential of the Medoc Peninsula, taking advantage of the newly liberated gravel terraces and altered water table. However, after Dutch engineers drained the Medoc’s swampy terrain, elite landowners began to sideline Graves. Transformation of the Medoc and Rise of Elite Landowners A century later, Haut-Brion was the toast of Europe’s aristocracy, producing red and white (invariably sweet) wines of great renown. Founder Jean de Pontac planted vines in the 1500s, laying the foundations for the ‘chateau’ system and the rise of individual brands. The latter existed as marshland until the 17th Century.īordeaux’s oldest First Growth chateau is Haut-Brion. Indeed, the best-known region in this era was Graves and not the Medoc. Consequently, the area under vine in Bordeaux increased exponentially, spreading to the southern reaches of Graves and Libourne. Trade with England flourished in the aftermath of this political union. Its resurgence occurred in the Middle Ages, following the marriage of Henry II of England to Eleanor of Aquitaine in 1152. This power vacuum led rival civilizations to clash over the region’s resources, leaving vineyards to decay. However, the collapse of Rome’s hegemony over Western Europe in the 5th Century was disastrous for Bordeaux’s wine economy. In addition, vineyards were established in Saint-Emilion, Loupiac (Entre-Deux-Mers), and the right bank of the Gironde estuary. Bordeaux’s first vineyards were planted in the vicinity of the city itself. The Romans were the first to spot the potential of this expansive region, planting vines after their conquest of Gaul (France) in the last Century BC. Commerce, not the church or peasant farmers as in Burgundy, has always held the reins of Bordeaux’s history. These events have molded the region for centuries. The history of Bordeaux winegrowing has been intrinsically intertwined with a series of political earthquakes. History Saint Andrew's medieval Gothic Cathedral in Bordeaux But there is plenty of luxury and decadence to go around, too. Make no mistake: Bordeaux does not exclusively cater to auction houses and the oligarch set. But there is a gigantic space in the middle for the delectable whites of Graves and the underrated red wines of Fronsac and its neighbors. On one end of the spectrum, the world’s most prestigious bottles and other awful wines that shouldn’t be made at all are found. Bordeaux produces an even greater volume of high-quality and affordable wine. And while connoisseurs go weak at the knees (understandably) when Chateau Margaux or Cheval Blanc enter the conversation. They produce an incredibly diverse range of styles, including white, rosé, dessert, and even sparkling wines. ![]() Over 110,000 hectares of vines are the economic – and cultural – lifeblood of the Aquitaine region. Yet the largest fine wine vineyard on earth does not solely exist for the benefit of visitors. This is the beauty of Bordeaux: You don’t have to look hard to find an idealized version of this venerable region. EXPLORE ALL OUR FRENCH WINE REGIONS GUIDESīordeaux evokes images of the fairy tale châteaux of the left bank (or “rive gauche”), the picture-perfect medieval hamlet of St Emilion on the right, and, of course, the handsome city of Bordeaux itself-considered to be a mini version of Paris.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |