Graves

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Map - Bordeaux wine region

The Graves area is an old wine-growing area in the Bordeaux wine-growing region with around 4650 hectares (of which the regional appellation Graves has 3000 hectares). Of the 4650 hectares, around 3450 hectares are currently in production.

Since March 4, 1937, the appellation has the status of an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée . The name derives from the stony ground (gravier: pebble), which is called Las Grabas de Bourdeus in the local language . The nutrient-poor soil is littered with stones. These stones store the sun's energy during the day and give off the heat at night. This creates a very favorable microclimate that benefits the vines. The area extends from the city of Bordeaux in the north to the municipality of Langon in the south on an approx. 55 km long and max. 10 km of strips. The area is protected by pine forests to the west and south. To the east, the Garonne River serves as a heat store.

history

2000 years ago the Romans planted the first Bordeaux vineyards here, and the Roman author Columella enthusiastically reports on the excellent wines. In 1154, Eleanor of Aquitaine , who came from Aquitaine, became Queen of England. During her reign, trade relations between Bordeaux and England were greatly expanded. Around the year 1300, the Archbishop of Bordeaux, Bernard de Goth, and later Pope Clemens V, founded a winery that still exists today under the name of Château Pape-Clément . The wines from Graves established the fame of Bordeaux at that time. From 1531 to 1551, Jean de Pontac planted a vineyard in the Haut-Brion district, which was the first great quality Bordeaux winery under the name Château Haut-Brion . In the 18th century, Charles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu ( 1689 - 1755 ) contributed a lot to the growing popularity of both the courts of Paris and England. He was born at Château La Brède and throughout his life had an open ear for the needs of the winegrowers from Graves.

The area under vines was almost 10,000 hectares at the end of the 19th century, but in the last hundred years a lot of vineyards were lost to phylloxera and the growth of the city of Bordeaux. In the immediate vicinity of the city of Bordeaux, 238 wineries were given up from 1908 to 1981 alone. Four of the most famous wineries in the region are now located in the city. Château Haut-Brion, Château Les Carmes-Haut-Brion and Château Pape Clément are in the district of Pessac , and in Talence is Château La Mission Haut-Brion .

In 1953, 16 wineries were classified that are allowed to carry the title Cru Classé des Graves. All classified châteaux are located in the sub-region of Pessac-Léognan, which extends into the southern suburbs of Bordeaux .

Classification of the Graves region

When Château Haut-Brion was given the top tier of Premier Grand Cru in the Bordeaux wine classification of 1855 , it was the only estate from the Graves region to be honored with the classification. The long-cherished wish for a similar list for the Graves was met by an amendment to the law from 1949. Therefore, a first classification was not published until August 7, 1953, which, following a revision of February 16, 1959 , looks as follows.

Classified for red and white wine:

Classified only for red wine:

Classified only for white wine:

There is no ranking of the châteaux within the classification. The Graves are unique within the Bordelais in that they contain the only classified dry white wines in the region.

Approved grape varieties

For the red wines are varietals Merlot , Cabernet Sauvignon , Cabernet Franc , Malbec and Petit Verdot admitted. Sémillon , Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle are used for the white wines .

Approved municipalities

Bègles , Talence , Pessac , Villenave-d'Ornon , Canéjan , Cestas , Saint-Jean-d'Illac , Gradignan , Martignas-sur-Jalle , Mérignac , la Brède , Ayguemorte-les-Graves , Beautiran , Cabanac-et-Villagrains , Cadaujac , Castres-Gironde , Isle-Saint-Georges , Léognan , Martillac , Saint-Médard-d'Eyrans , Saint-Morillon , Saint-Selve , Saucats , Podensac , Arbanats , Budos , Cérons , Guillos , Illats , Landiras , Portets , Pujols-sur-Ciron , Saint-Michel-de-Rieufret , Virelade , Eysines , Toulenne , Langon , Saint-Pierre-de-Mons , Roaillan , Mazères , Léogeats , Saint-Pardon , le Haillan

literature

Web links