How does the Bordeaux wine distribution system work who benefits and how?

Bordeaux wine is a high-end wine, distributed through distributors called the négociants (Beyersdorfa and Dessain 175). They purchase all the wine that the estate produces one year after the wines are bottled and pay in advance. However, it is they who distribute the wine and maintain its exclusivity.

Why are Bordeaux wines so good?

Of course, one of the key reasons why Bordeaux is so prized around the world is due to its aging potential. All of the red wines of Bordeaux will be aged in traditional barrels before bottling, but thanks to the emphasis on the tannic Cabernet Sauvignon grape, they are perfect for aging in the bottle.

Are Bordeaux wines a good investment?

The Bordeaux wine region produces some of the most desirable collectible blends which usually come along with hefty price tags. The wines from the top chateaux are extremely age-worthy. So, their value also tends to increase over time, making them a great investment opportunity for wine collectors.

How should Bordeaux wine be served?

Temperature for Serving Bordeaux Wines

For red Bordeaux wine, correct serving temperatures are 61°to 64°; for white Bordeaux, 43° to 47°; for Sauternes, the correct serving temperature is 50°.

What wine is Bordeaux famous for?

It is important to note that while Bordeaux is of course famous for its red wines, because 90% of the region is devoted to producing red Bordeaux wine, Bordeaux is also capable of producing great white Bordeaux wine, made from Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Sauvignon Gris.

Bordeaux, the Region and its Wines

What does Bordeaux style wine mean?

The term “Bordeaux style” is typically used to refer to a wine, not directly to grapes, but it implies something about the grapes used to make the wine. In the actual Bordeaux region of France, red wines are blended from the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petite Verdot grapes.

How many wineries are in Bordeaux?

Detailed look at Bordeaux Terroir and Soil Today, there are less than 6,000 different chateaux in the region. Each estate has an average of just under 20 hectares of vines in their vineyard. Those 6,000 wineries and vineyards make more than 9,000 different Bordeaux wines every vintage.

Should Bordeaux be decanted?

Old Bordeaux, Cabernets, Tempranillos and Rhônes should also usually be decanted, and they often also benefit from breathing.

Where is Bordeaux wine region?

Bordeaux wine region is located in southwest France, north of the Aquitaine region. The region extends around the rivers Gironde, Garonne, and Dordogne.

When should you drink Bordeaux?

High-quality Bordeaux should be aged for at least 10 years but normally reach their peak in the 15-20 year range. More mass-produced Bordeaux wines should be drunk much sooner, after about 5 years of aging.

What are Bordeaux futures?

Bordeaux futures, also known as en primeur, refers to purchasing wine that is still maturing in barrel for delivery later once the wine has been bottled. For over 200 years, Bordeaux chateaux have offered their wines for sale prior to release.

Is fine wine a good investment?

Much like gold, during periods of high inflation, wine is often seen as a good way to store value. Over the past few years, wine has had a better performance track record compared to gold. Looking at data from both assets for the 2021 calendar year, wine returned 22.5% while gold returned -2.69%.

Is Bordeaux wine better?

Bordeaux red is far more common than white Bordeaux, but these dry white wines are still considered premium wines, and they're really worth trying. White Bordeaux is usually a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Muscadelle grapes. The resulting wine is dry and usually oak aged for a buttery, savory quality.

Is Bordeaux the best wine?

By far the largest, the most important, and one of the best French wine regions, both for high-end wines and for bargains, is Bordeaux. Great reds from the renowned chateaus are what make the headlines, but Bordeaux is so big, that there is plenty of choice.

How long is Bordeaux wine good for?

Young white Bordeaux should be consumed within a few years and less expensive red Bordeaux is meant to be consumed within 5 years. Don't hold onto it unless it's of high quality, or you'll lose the enjoyment it can offer you now.

Why is Bordeaux famous?

Bordeaux is a world capital of wine, with its castles and vineyards of the Bordeaux region that stand on the hillsides of the Gironde and is home to the world's main wine fair, Vinexpo.

Is Bordeaux left or Right Bank?

The Left Bank and Right Bank are two Bordeaux winemaking regions separated by the Gironde estuary and two rivers – the Dordogne and the Garonne. The Right Bank is the area to the north of the Dordogne river, and the Left Bank is the area directly south of the Garonne river.

Can you drink 100 year old wine?

I've personally tried some really old wines—including a Port that was about a hundred years old—that were fantastic. I've had others that were over the hill at their 10th anniversary. Many if not most wines are made to be drunk more or less immediately, and they'll never be better than on the day they're released.

How long do you let a Bordeaux breathe?

Full-bodied, dry white wine (e.g. Chardonnay and White Rioja): This wine style can benefit from a short aeration period. White Burgundy wine, Alsace white wine, and white Bordeaux wine: These wines need to breathe for around 30 minutes.

Should Bordeaux wine be chilled?

Does A Bordeaux Need To Be Chilled? It should be in the 55F-65F range when drinking red wine. Keeping tannic, fuller-bodied wines in the fridge for 45 minutes will help them warm up. Cold red wine tastes dull, but warm red wine is flabby and alcoholic.

How many bottles of wine are produced in Bordeaux?

Bordeaux 2020 production compared with previous vintages

Bordeaux produced 440 million litres of wine in 2020, the equivalent of 587 million bottles. This was around 10% less than in 2019 and 2018 (486 and 499 million litres respectively), which were both close to the 10-year average.

What are the 5 grapes of Bordeaux?

What are the Bordeaux Varietals? The six Bordeaux Varietals include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and occasionally Carménère.

What is the most famous classification in Bordeaux?

Different quality classifications apply in various districts of Bordeaux. The most famous is the 1855 classification of the wines of the Médoc. Also applying to the Médoc is the Cru Bourgeois classification, introduced in 1932.

What wines are Bordeaux?

Bordeaux has three main styles: Left-Bank blend (Cabernet Sauvignon dominant), Right-Bank blend (Merlot dominant) and White blend (Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc). Despite their acclaim, quality Bordeaux wines can be found at almost every price-point, some as affordable as $15.