In Bordeaux, the city and wine have coexisted for more than 2000 years. It is the centre of the world's largest wine region, with more than 120,000 hectares of vineyards.

Today, there are about 8650 winemakers in the Bordeaux vineyard, which distinguishes itself by the great diversity of estates: family-owned estates passed on from one generation to another, large corporations owned by national or multinational interest, and new investors.

Bordeaux is probably the most well known wine region in France. Bordeaux counts for one third of the good quality French wine (AOC, Crus bourgeois, Crus classés). The wines are so good there that a Bordeaux ranking is needed to classify the best of the best. Some of them are universal such as Margaux, Yquem, Petrus, Cheval Blanc, Haut-Brion, Latour, Lafite-Rothschild, Mouton Rothschild and all the others.

At the Universal Exhibition of 1855 in Paris, the "Chambre Syndicale des Courtiers de Bordeaux" (Professional chamber of wine merchants in Bordeaux) distinguished 61 high quality wines including red wines of the Medoc and also wines of Sauternes and classified them as 1er Cru, 2eme Cru, 3eme Cru, 4eme Cru et 5eme Cru. This grand exhibition, the brainchild of Emperor Napoleon III, was intended to showcase the best of all that was France. The exhibition aimed at boosting trade and wine was just a small part of it.

Bordeaux has 57 appellations, about 8650 wine-producing châteaux, and 13,000 wine growers. The large diversity of Bordeaux suggests an equal diversity of soil.

Red wines are elaborated from grapes such as:

• Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc that give vigor, tannin and good keeping quality.
• Merlot that brings softness and suppleness. Merlot is the most planted grape in Bordeaux, covering 50% of the wine region.

White wines are elaborated mostly from grapes such as:

• Sauvignon Blanc
• Semillon
• Muscadelle.