the soil
the grape variety
The wealth of the terroir of Grand Saint-Émilionnais Area first comes from the symbiosis between several natural elements :
The combination of these great conditions for viticulture as well as a clever blending of grape varieties (mostly Merlot combined with Cabernet Franc or Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec in smaller proportions) give to the wine a large variety of taste and smell.
The wine of the Grand Saint-Émilionnais Area can as well be hard and concentrate as refined and delicate.
Over time, the wines of Saint-Émilion have a red-brick color, orange and offer a complexity in mouth that makes you want to enjoy a second glass ... always in moderation !
The harvest period is also quite spectacular to discover on our territory! Don't hesitate to come and attend between mid-September and the end of October! And for all the others, go here to discover them in drawings.
The grape variety : the variety of vine used to make wine.
The tannin : Substance contained in the seeds and skin of grapes. It's essential in red wines where it forms the tannic component allowing the wine to evolve over time.
As early as 1884, local producers established the first syndicat viticole (winegrowers association) in France. This was just one of many steps taken in Saint-Émilion over the years to enhance the production, promotion, and sale of the town's world-class wines.
The Syndicat Viticole created two appellations: Saint-Émilion and Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. They also instituted a classification enabling wines in the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation to attain status as :
This classification adopted and instituted in 1955 by the Union of Wine of Saint-Émilion (which became in 2007 the Wine Council of Saint-Émilion) is re-examined every 10 years and encourages winegrowers to come up to excellence. Its main objective is to guarantee the origin, the quality and authenticity of Saint-Émilion wines.
A wine commission has to oversee the whole ranking procedure. The National Committee of Wines and Brandies designates this commission. It’s composed of 7 people working in the wine-area, outside of the Bordeaux region.
Here are some criteria that are rigorously examined by the commission :
The latest classification drawn up by the INAO (Institut National de l'Origine et de la Qualité) and the Ministry of Agriculture dates back to 2022 and consecrated 85 properties, including 2 Premiers Grands Crus Classés A, 12 Premiers Grands Crus Classés and 71 Grands Crus Classés.
Discover the list of classified properties
In 2012, the tasting has been an important part of the final wine ranking.
Careful : Alcohol abuse is dangerous for the health. Please drink responsibly.
Saint-Émilion wine producers have consistently supported environmental initiatives through various projects. They are among the pioneers who have adopted the principles of sustainable development, taking responsible steps to reduce the impact of their activity on the environment.
Encouraged by the Conseil des Vins de Saint-Emilion, professionals benefit from a wide range of tools to support them in their actions (reference speakers at the Conseil des Vins de Saint-Emilion, meetings dedicated to certifications, practical information sheets on each certification: resources to be implemented, assistance, frequently asked questions, etc.).
With the common aim of ensuring the long-term future of their farms while taking care of their terroir, winegrowers may need to use different approaches:
To give concrete expression to these various commitments by the region, and following three years of intensive work by the Environment Commission of the Saint-Émilion Wine Council, in collaboration with the INAO, on 15 May 2018, the Saint-Émilion winegrowers approved the new wording of their specifications. It now includes a range of environmentally-friendly measures, including the requirement, from 1 January 2023, for all winegrowers in the Saint-Émilion, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, Lussac Saint-Émilion and Puisseguin Saint-Émilion appellations to have environmental certification (level 2 or 3 or organic farming).
These 2 appellations are the best-known appellations in the world. It only applies to red wines. Rosés or white wines produced on the territory therefore have a different name.
Saint-Émilion and Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Appellation are located on an area of 5400 hectares that spread over the 8 towns of the Jurisdiction of Saint-Émilion, as well as a part of Libourne. The average surface of the wine estate is 8 hectares and includes still more than 800 wineries.
These two appellations are AOC "Appellations d’Origine Contrôlée" (the equivalent in english is “Protected Designation of Origin”) – designation that was created in 1936. It is since 1948 that all wines seeking the AOC name must pass a quality control.
For more information on the specifics of Saint-Émilion and Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellations, go here
Grand Cru Classé
1st Grand Cru Classé
1st Grand Cru Classé A
For more information about the Saint-Emilion's classification, go here
These four appellations are located north of Saint-Émilion in the villages of Montagne, Saint-George, Puisseguin and Lussac. They obtained the right to use the name of “Saint-Émilion” just behind the name of their village on wine bottles since 1936. That’s how the following appellations were born:
They produce robust and full-bodied red wines.
This AOC is located in the Libourne region on the villages of Lalande de Pomerol and Néac, close to the prestigious Pomerol.
It produces deep red wine with aromas of red fruits and spices.
It’s a recent appellation, founded in 1990, that produces mostly white wines and sparkling rosé in the traditional way. Before, it was called Bordeaux Mousseux. These wines are usually raised in underground galleries where moisture conditions are ideal. This AOC is present in Saint-Émilion thanks to the Crément de Bordeaux produced in the Cordeliers Cloister.
Crémant de Bordeaux can be dry, semi-dry or sweet.
The Union of Côtes de Bordeaux brings 4 appellations together : Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux, Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux, Francs Côtes de Bordeaux and Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux.
Two of these appellations are present on the Great Saint-Émilion Area :
These two appellations give very sweet and fruity wines (red fruits aromas but also vanilla).
These two regional appellations are also presents on the territory of the Great Saint-Émilion Area. The AOC Bordeaux Supérieur wines must meet quality criteria even more specific than those of the AOC Bordeaux.
AOC Bordeaux Supérieur wines are stronger than AOC Bordeaux wines and their flavour is more complex.
Launched in 2009 at the instigation of the Conseil Supérieur de l'Oenotourisme, the Vignobles & Découvertes national label aims to provide greater clarity for customers and greater visibility for the destination.
It is based on existing national and local quality schemes. It is awarded by decision of the Conseil Supérieur de l'Oenotourisme for a period of three years. It is awarded to a wine destination and its tourism components (accommodation, restaurants, visits to wine châteaux, site visits, etc.).
The idea is to offer a complete range of wine tourism services to individuals or groups, with the emphasis on quality.
The Bordeaux wine region is made up of 6 areas that have been awarded the Vignobles et Découvertes label:
This label, set up in 2003 by the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce and Industry, rewards wine estates and businesses promoting wine tourism in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in 7 categories. Each property can compete in one or two categories maximum. :
A Golden Best Of is awarded in each category, and winners are also elected and rewarded.
Each year, a prize-giving ceremony is organised to reward the new winners. The national winners are then selected for the international Best of Wine Tourism awards. This award allows the wineries to display their trophy and a welcome leaflet at the entrance to their establishment to show visitors that the quality of their wine tourism services has been recognised and rewarded.
What's more, the competition gives participants a high profile among tourism professionals, with national and international media coverage, and among the general public thanks to widespread distribution via social networks (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter).
Lastly, more than ten thousand copies of a mini-guide listing the competition winners are published each year and can also be downloaded online.
The Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce and Industry has also set up the "Great Wine Capitals Travel Network", enabling the 9 capitals of great vineyards to work closely together and facilitate exchanges between these "capitals".
These capitals are :
Accueil Vélo is a national label guaranteeing a high-quality welcome and services along cycle routes for touring cyclists.
Accueil Vélo means that cyclists are guaranteed an establishment:
The national "Accueil Vélo" label has been set up under the aegis of France Vélo Tourisme by local tourist organisations to provide the best possible welcome for cyclists throughout France.
The winegrowers of Puisseguin Lussac Saint-Emilion came together at the dawn of the Second World War, in 1938, in order to pool their tools, their strengths and their investments to enhance the quality of their terroirs.
This is how the cooperative winery, located in Puisseguin, was born. Its winegrowers produce wines from some of the most beautiful Bordeaux appellations: Puisseguin Saint-Emilion, Lussac Saint-Emilion, Montagne Saint-Emilion, Côtes de Bordeaux, Bordeaux Supérieur, Bordeaux and recently the IGP Atlantique.
Lussac is located opposite the Saint-Emilion plateau. The appellation covers some 1,500 hectares. The vineyard seems to date back to the Gallo-Roman period. A trilogy of landscapes characterises this AOC: hillside, plateau and lower slopes. The plateau is made up of Perigord sands, which produce pleasant young wines, and the hillside is made up of clay-limestone, where wines with longer ageing potential are produced. These are powerful but elegant wines, which have a good aptitude for ageing.
Puisseguin is located opposite the Saint-Emilion plateau. The appellation covers approximately 760 hectares. Its name comes from the combination of the word "Puy" which means "mount" and the name Seguin, Charlemagne's lieutenant. These are fleshy, tannic wines with good ageing potential.
You can find wines from these appellations in the shop of the Vignerons de Puisseguin Lussac Saint-Emilion!
The Saint-Emilion Wine Council brings together 970 winegrowers for the 4 appellations: Puisseguin Saint-Emilion, Lussac Saint-Emilion, Saint-Emilion and Saint-Emilion Grand Cru.
It was the first wine syndicate created in France in 1884 and paved the way for many estates: it was here that the first cooperative winery in the Gironde was born, and the control of wines through tasting.
Today, the aim of the Saint-Emilion Wine Council is to :
The Côtes de Francs appellation was recognised as an AOC by the INAO in 1967. It has been called Francs Côtes de Bordeaux since 2008.
Situated about fifty kilometres north-east of Bordeaux, it is one of the smallest and most easterly of the department covering 525 hectares spread over 3 communes: Francs, Saint Cibard and Tayac. It is made up of 41 properties and 3 cooperative cellars.
Its terroir is made up in the south of limestone with asteries covered with limestone molasses known as "de l'agenais" and in the rest of the appellation of limestone molasses known as "du fronsadais".
The vineyard is planted with various grape varieties. For the red wines, Merlot is in the majority, as in the whole of Libourne, and presents between 50 and 60%. Next come Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, representing about 40 to 50%. As far as white wines are concerned, Semillon dominates with 60%, while Muscadelle and Sauvignon complete the range of grape varieties equally.
The annual production is on average :
Located 15 minutes from Saint-Emilion in Libourne region, Lalande de Pomerol has 157 winegrowers on a surface of 1138 hectares. The areas are mainly homesteads, happy to share their knowledge and the love of their beautiful land.
Discover the diversity of our wines: the Lalande Pomerol wine syndicate is opened Monday to Friday from 2:00pm to 5:00pm.
With an altitude difference of more than 100 metres, 3 main types of soil make Castillon an exceptional land. Gravelly near the river Dordogne, the clayey soils at the foot of the hillsides become clayey-limestone then limestone on the plateaux.
230 families of passionate, committed, forward-looking winegrowers and as many personalities to discover. Intimate properties averaging 10 hectares in size offering a privileged contact with the winegrower.
A rich appellation that inspires new vocations:
The appellation, which has a large number of winegrowers committed to an environmental approach, 25% of whom are involved in bio/biodynamics, has always been a forerunner in the protection of nature (1st Bordeaux appellation to set up a wine effluent treatment plant in 2002).
The winegrowers of Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux have always preserved biodiversity by respecting the natural balance between wooded areas and plots of vines.
Find the wines of the appellation at the Maison du Vin located in Castillon-la-Bataille.
Grand Saint-Emilionnais Tourist Office
Le Doyenné - Place des Créneaux
33330 SAINT-EMILION
