Wine & History Lovers: Pack Your Bags for Bordeaux
For a memorable journey, make your way to the wine capital of Bordeaux, where a fantastic mix of 18th-century grandeur, world-class wine and food, and rich history and culture await discovery. Bordeaux's long history is deeply intertwined with its renowned wine industry, making it an ideal destination for history and wine lovers. Read on for a brief introduction to some of the highlights of Bordeaux’s wine history.
Early Days
The Bordeaux wine region has a long and fascinating past dating back to the Romans who are credited with cultivating and planting the first vines. In 1152, the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine to Henry Plantagenet, the future King of England, brought Bordeaux under the British crown and expanded the popularity of Bordeaux wines. Increased demand and a variety of favorable conditions, including preferential tariffs, led to over two centuries of Bordeaux wine exports to England.
Rise of the Médoc
A pivotal moment in the production of Bordeaux wine came in the 17th century when Dutch expertise in land drainage helped create dry land out of the left-bank salt marshes north of Bordeaux. The Dutch, along with the British, were major purchasers of Bordeaux wine, and the reclaimed swampland— now the Medoc— proved ideal for growing vines. Combining their expertise in engineering and water management with innovative Dutch aging techniques led to the eventual production of high-quality wines. Meanwhile, as Bordeaux became a major trading harbor and economic power in the 18th century, the growing wealth of the city was reflected in the building of grand mansions, gardens, courtyards, and elegant public spaces including the majestic opera house.
An American Statesman in Bordeaux
Thomas Jefferson's visit to Bordeaux in 1787 was brief, lasting only five days during his four-year tenure as Ambassador to France, yet he remains a symbol of the strong bond between America and Bordeaux. In his diaries, Jefferson documented the vineyards he visited and the wines he sampled, placing substantial orders at several châteaux, including Yquem, Haut-Brion, and Lafite, undoubtedly boosting Bordeaux's popularity in America. His avid appreciation for Bordeaux wines endears him to the Bordelais, who honor him with a plaque on the wall of the U.S. consulate in Bordeaux, commemorating him as a “symbol of Franco-American friendship.”
The 1855 Classification of Bordeaux Wine
Another key year in Bordeaux's history was 1855 when the official classification was created, ranking châteaux in the Médoc based on quality and price in an attempt to help consumers. Red wines were ranked in five unique classes, all from Medoc, except for the already legendary Château Haut-Brion from Graves, which had to be included, due to its worldwide fame. In Sauternes and Barsac, the sweet wines were included with only two classes. The classification of the wines of Bordeaux proved to be an instant, international, marketing success and quickly increased demand and prices for the best classified Bordeaux wines. Remarkably, the classification is still a reference today and has changed very little since its creation.
20th Century Challenges
The World Wars brought their share of disruption and turmoil to Bordeaux. During World War II, the French government initially relocated to the city; however, Bordeaux soon fell under Nazi German occupation, which lasted for four years. Many local châteaux were requisitioned, cellars were looted, and production slowed considerably due to labor shortages. Stories are told of resistance efforts and creative attempts made by locals to hide their best wines while selling poor-quality ones to the occupiers, and it was a difficult time for the occupied region with many vineyards becoming severely dilapidated.
Today Bordeaux continues to be an important wine-producing region with 57 appellations and over 8,000 chåteaux producing some of the best wines in modern history. Centuries-old traditions are practiced along with innovative approaches to farming and vineyard management that take into consideration changing climate conditions and trends in organic farming and green harvesting. A visit to Bordeaux provides an opportunity to dive into the fascinating history and rich wine culture and taste the exceptional wines that reflect both the terroir and the evolving spirit of the times.
