The Médoc is one of the most famous of the French wine-growing regions, consisting of the region in the département of Gironde, on the left bank of the Gironde estuary, north of Bordeaux. The region owes its fames to its production of red wine, home to around 1,500 vineyards including many of the finest in the world.

The Médoc's geography is not ideal, with its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean resulting in a comparatively mild climate and high rainfall making rot a constant problem. It is generally believed that the region's greatness derives from the soil; although the terrain is flat, the excellent drainage is a necessity and the increased amount of gravel in the soil allows heat to be retained, encouraging ripening, and extensive root systems.

With the exception of Château Haut Brion from Graves, all of the red wines in the famous 1855 Classification are from the Médoc.

Almost all of the region's wine consists mainly of the cabernet sauvignon grape, with merlot forming the majority of the remainder. In addition cabernet franc is usually used in small quantities, with petit verdot and malbec occasionally added.

The Médoc is subdivided into six smaller appellations, roughly corresponding to the villages of the region. From north to south they are:

• Saint-Estèphe
• Pauillac
• Saint-Julien
• Listrac
• Moulis
• Margaux

External Links

Medoc (http://www.medoc-wines.com/default-eng.htm)