📍 Médoc

The Médoc is a peninsula on the left bank of the Gironde estuary, north of the city of Bordeaux, and the AOC Médoc appellation. Its vineyards stretch for almost 80 km across 50 communes, on gravel hillocks 3 to 50 m high. The wines made here are mostly red, based on Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot.

Between the Atlantic to the west and the estuary to the east the climate is oceanic: the water softens swings in temperature, although differences between vintages are noticeable. The gravel hillocks are cut by streams and drain water well. The west of the peninsula is forest. The region takes its name from the Gaulish tribe of the Medulli.

AOC Médoc was recognised by a decree of 14 November 1936, and the name has been protected in the EU since 18.09.1973. The rules require at least 5,000 vines per hectare, a yield of 55 hl/ha (65 hl/ha at most) and natural alcohol from 11 %. Besides Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, the reds include Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, more rarely Côt (Malbec) and Carménère. A 2025 amendment brought white wines from Sauvignon, Sémillon and Muscadelle back into the appellation.

The peninsula also has separate appellations: Haut-Médoc, Listrac-Médoc, Moulis and the famous communes of Margaux, Saint-Julien, Pauillac and Saint-Estèphe. Most of the châteaux in the 1855 classification are here: Bordeaux brokers drew it up for the Exposition Universelle in Paris, and among the red wines it included 60 Médoc estates and Château Haut-Brion from Graves.

Why it matters to you. Médoc and Haut-Médoc are different appellations, and a commune name (Pauillac, Margaux) on the label means a narrower zone. “Grand Cru Classé en 1855” applies only to estates from that list; the separate Crus Bourgeois du Médoc classification first appeared in 1932.