📜 Saint-Emilion
A famous Bordeaux town on the Right Bank, with red wines based on Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
Saint-Émilion is a famous town and appellation in Bordeaux on the right bank of the Dordogne river in France. The name is protected as a PDO. Still red wines are made here, mainly from Merlot and Cabernet Franc, sometimes with Cabernet Sauvignon. The district lies near the city of Libourne.
The town is medieval, with narrow streets and old buildings, and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Vineyards surround it on a limestone plateau and on slopes. The soils are limestone and clay, which suits Merlot. This is what sets the right bank apart from the left, where Cabernet Sauvignon reigns.
Saint-Émilion wines are usually soft and rounded, with notes of plum, cherry and spice. The best keep for decades. The district has an official classification, which is reviewed roughly every ten years.
Saint-Émilion is surrounded by satellite areas with similar wines. So when you see the word Saint-Émilion on a label, you can expect a Merlot-based wine in a soft style. Small wineries called châteaux carry on the traditions, and many are open to visitors.
How it connects to Wine
📜 Saint-Emilion ← main grape of ← 🍇 Cabernet Sauvignon → kind of → 🍇 Grape varieties → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Where it is
- 📍 Libournais
- Related to
- 🏰 Château Cheval Blanc (Saint-Émilion, border with Pomerol), 🏰 Château Ausone (Saint-Émilion, limestone slopes), 🏰 Château Angélus (Saint-Émilion, south-facing slope), 🍷 Still wine
- Main grapes
- 🍇 Merlot, 🍇 Cabernet Franc, 🍇 Cabernet Sauvignon
- Wines
- 🍷 Red wine
- Similar and different
- 🏷️ Saint-Émilion classification
Frequently asked questions
What is Saint-Émilion?
A town and appellation in Bordeaux on the right bank, known for Merlot-based red wines.
What grapes make Saint-Émilion?
Mainly Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
Does Saint-Émilion have a classification?
Yes, reviewed roughly every ten years.
What to read next
- 📍 Libournais — The Right Bank around Saint-Émilion and Pomerol.
- 🏰 Château Cheval Blanc — A Saint-Émilion estate on the border with Pomerol, assembled from 1832 and owned since 1998 by Bernard Arnault and the Frère family; Cabernet Franc and Merlot.
- 🏷️ Saint-Émilion classification — The official classification of the estates of the AOC Saint-Émilion grand cru in Bordeaux, in place since 1955 and revised every ten years.
- 🍷 Still wine — Wine without noticeable bubbles: EU category 1, at least 8.5–9 % actual alcohol and no more than 15 % total; red, white, rosé or orange.
- 🏰 Château Angélus — A Saint-Émilion estate below the town’s churches, run by the de Boüard de Laforest family, settled in Saint-Émilion since 1782; known for the bell on its label.
Similar
📜 Canon-Fronsac · 📜 Lussac-Saint-Émilion · 📜 Montagne-Saint-Émilion · 📜 Fronsac · 📜 Lalande-de-Pomerol · 📜 Pomerol
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.