A new hotspot for trendy French wines emerges

With supple reds and crisp whites, as well as golden wines, clairet and crémant, the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux region offers the best of France in one place.

Cadillac-sur-Garonne may not be the most famous town in Bordeaux, but it is among its most storied. That shows in its history – it is a charming riverside commune with medieval fortifications, clock towers and a grand château. Wander over its cobbles and you will immediately understand.

Walk slightly further and you will see vineyards that likewise make up for a lack of fame with quality and interest. The growers and makers here have long been pioneers, whether that is in creating the ‘Cadillac graft’ that countered the phylloxera epidemic or their successful winegrowers’ union. Now, they are continuing that heritage, as the surrounding area comes together. This is the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux region.

Encompassing 5,500 hectares of vineyards, the region stretches along the banks of the Garonne. Its vineyards spread over gentle hills, with village hubs dotted about. In between, you will find both humble longstanding farmhouses and notable monuments. Yet history is only the starting-point. In fact, the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux region is taking bold steps into its future.

A modern revival
The region produces a range of styles.

The region is distinctly local, but it combines a wealth of winemaking traditions and options. In its vineyards, producers can make wines under the AOCs of Cadillac, Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux, Sainte-Croix-du-Mont, Loupiac, Côtes de Bordeaux Saint-Macaire, Premières Côtes de Bordeaux, Côtes de Bordeaux and Bordeaux.

That means that the region can offer the whole range of Bordeaux’s styles. Around three-quarters of the production is supple red wines, made with a wide range of grape varieties. Yet there is also significant production of white wines. The region’s famous golden botrytised wines are well represented, but so are crisp, dry whites made with Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. Even Bordeaux’s most closely-guarded secrets are present: deep-hued clairet that bridges the worlds of red and rosé, and the region’s undervalued Crémant de Bordeaux.

Furthermore, the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux region has backed up its ambition with a study to establish its viticultural potential. A team of experts from Bordeaux Sciences Agro assessed its soils and micro-climates. The findings established the wealth of plots ideally suited to wine production in the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux region. The highest-potential sites were generally found on hilltops, as well as sitting on the edges of plateaus.

This landmark piece of work has given a scientific basis to generations of expertise in the region. Examining the region in close detail, it identifies three core terroirs, each with particular benefits for different styles. That means that producers are even better placed to express their particular landscape, whether that is in rounded reds, elegant whites or the region’s distinctive golden botrytised wines.

Ready for the market

With such a wealth of styles on offer, the region removes some of the barriers to understanding Bordeaux. The Premières Côtes de Bordeaux region serves as a hub, where the evident quality spans appellations and styles.

Winemaking at Château la Peyruche in the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux.

Crucially, that complete package of wines comes at a compelling price point. The Premières Côtes de Bordeaux region can furnish a wine list with accessibly priced bottles, from a region that is gaining in reputation.

With most wines being easy-drinking and not requiring years of cellaring, these bottles represent a canny way to get French wines onto restaurant and bar lists. Their approachability also makes them versatile for pairing. Authentic, food-friendly and increasingly sustainable: the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux region aligns with many of the industry’s key trends.

Discovering the region

With a clear identity to promote, the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux region is now focused on getting the word out. Both drinkers and the wine trade are being invited to explore the region and its 155 constituent wineries.

That is, in part, direct. The Bordeaux area is well-established as a tourism hub, and the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux region is throwing open its doors – literally and metaphorically – to capitalise on that. It is easily accessible from the regional airport, and easier than ever to organise a trip. The region has invested in a year-long programme of workshops, walks and events, while partner châteaux are now discoverable as part of its tourism pass.

Moreover, the UK trade does not need to travel to Bordeaux to discover the wines. Its producers are increasingly crossing the channel to bring the exciting wines directy to buyers. Recent events in London on 14 and 15 October, for example, featured walkaround tastings on each day, as well as exclusive sessions for sommeliers and for buyers. Featuring both new bottles and wines available in the UK, it showed the full spectrum of wines from the ambitious region. Whether looking to import, sell or simply enjoy a great wine from France, the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux region is an on-trend solution.