Bordeaux Wine Capital

France is the second largest wine producing area in the world after Italy, but in terms of quality wine it is number one.

The prestige and influence of French wine is based in Bordeaux. Bordeaux produces more than 700 million bottles a year out of some 15,000 properties. 80% of this wine is red and known as Bordeaux blend. The English refer to it as Claret - a term relatively unknown in France.

The Bordeaux blend comprises the following varieties in any combination: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. The blend is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon on the left bank of the Gironde, and Merlot on the right bank.

Bordeaux sets the standard for reds against which all others are measured. The most expensive wines in the world emanate from Bordeaux. Chateau Petrus from Pomerol leads in this respect with the first cru of St Emillion (Ch. Ausson, and Ch. Cheval Blanc) and the Medoc (Mouton Rothschild, Lafite Rothschild, Latour, Margeaux and Haute Brion) not too far behind. Wines from these chateaux in certain years will fetch well over 2000 Euros. It is also not unusual for the value of a wine to increase more than tenfold within a few years of a good vintage.

But not all Bordeaux wines are out of reach of the average wine lover. With a wide range of appellations to choose from, there is something to suite every budget.

Ask your Villa St Simon host to take you treasure hunting through the Medoc, St Julian, St Estephe, Margaux, Paulliac, St Emillion, Fronsac, Graves, Blaye, Bourg, Pomerol, Libourne, Castillion – the list goes on!