What is my favorite wine region?

Alongside with Burgundy and Champagne, the Bordeaux wine region is one of the most famous in the world. It is very large in size and divided into many sub-regions and areas. You may know the mythic “Grand crus Classés chateaux” of the Medoc or Saint Emilion area, praised for the production of powerful, long aging red wines.

But there is another part of the Bordeaux wine land that is very dear to my heart and which still continues to amaze me each time I drive through it: it is the captivating Entre-deux-Mers region which is also much cherished by nature and art lovers and that also inspired number of French artists and writers.

I do really make a point to show the wine enthusiasts from all over the world the hidden treasures of this land that offers a great variety of wines.

An outstanding geographical location

The Entre deux mers wine region consists of a vast hilly triangle shaped plateau which stretches over 60 km from the outskirts of the city Bordeaux to the Lot-et-Garone department. It is delimited by the two main tidal rivers, the Garonne and the Dordogne. Hence the name Entre-deux-Mers which means literally between two seas.

The tidal bore (mascaret), an exceptional phenomenon that can be best contemplated between June and October, is a testimony of the strong ocean’s influence. An event that is eagerly awaited by board sports enthusiasts!

Beautiful views of the city of Bordeaux are awaiting you from the first hills of the Garonne’s right bank, more precisely at the luxurious Saint James hotel nicknamed the «Balcony of Bordeaux». It produces an average of 500 bottles of wine from its tiny vineyard made of merlot grapes.

There are even more breathtaking sceneries to be observed further to the south, from charming family run wine properties and impressive castles scattered on the green hills all along the river banks and further inland.

One of my favorite spots to admire the Garonne valley is the village of Sainte Croix du Mont which is endowed with one of nature’s natural wonder, a vast bed of fossilized oysters which was formed by a tremendous accumulation of shells 20 million years ago, when the region was still covered by the ocean. Some wine caves have been dug directly out of these oysters’ layers and provide ideal temperature for wine ageing and storage!

The two main rivers enabled the development of wine trade throughout the centuries in this area since the Gallo-roman times.

A true journey back in time

Indeed, vines were introduced in the Entre-deux-Mers 2000 years ago, as the remains of a Gallo-roman villa and thermal baths in the village of Loupiac testify. It is one of the most remarkable relics of the antique period!

The rich number of abbeys, monasteries and churches are also a proof of an intense religious activity mainly developed during the Middle Ages by the Benedictine monks who grew their owns vines. The most famous monument is La Sauve Majeure Abbey, a masterpiece of Romanesque art classified as a major UNESCO site, which includes one of the Entre-deux-Mers wine houses.

During that time, a number of fortified bastide towns flourished in the entire region among which Cadillac, whose historic center is still surrounded by ramparts and dominated by an impressive Renaissance castle.

Not to be missed is the France’s smallest medieval village, Castelmoron d’Albret and Chateau de Camarsac, a castle and later wine estate that witnessed the visit of Edward, the Black Prince during the Hundred Years War.

The calm and the beauty of the countryside has also attracted the famous French painter Henri de Toulouse Lautrec who passed the last years of his life in his family estate, a beautiful wine property and real traditional château restored after “Viollet le Duc”, in the south of the Entre deux mers. The artist was buried in the cemetery of the nearby village of Verdelais, Europe’s main pilgrimage site until the end of the 19th century.

Traditional markets are still held in these picturesque towns and villages since that time. It is a unique occasion for visitors to taste the local specialties and wines.

Diversity of land and wines

With its unique location, climate, the diversity of soils and micro climates, Entre-Deux-Mers is a homeland of wines uniting all colors and styles. They may be red, white or rosé.

Sparkling wines labeled under the regional “Crémant de Bordeaux” appellation are a real alternative to traditional champagne.

The main grape varieties planted in the region are Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Muscadelle. Those varieties are used to produce both dry white and delicate sweet white Bordeaux wines. And of course, my favorite white wines are from this region!

The crispy and refreshing dry white wines match perfectly with either oysters and seafood from the nearby Arcachon bay, or if they are more intense and full-bodied, with white meat dishes.

If you want to enjoy Entre-Deux-Mers wine at its best, try to taste them young, generally within a year after the vintage. However, some of the wines aged in oak barrels may be stored for a longer time.

The red wines are mainly made of the Merlot grape combined to a smaller amount of cabernet sauvignon, and cabernet Franc. These round and structured red wines are excellent companions for lamprey or the “Entrecôte bordelaise”, both traditional dishes of the region.

To learn more about the specificity of these wines, the different wine appellations – 9 AOC in total – that make up the Entre-deux-Mers region, I strongly recommend you to visit the different wine houses and, of course, to meet the local wine producers and owners who are known for their warm and authentic welcome.

So, if you really want to discover the French «Art de vivre» and taste all the nuances of Bordeaux wines, Entre-deux-Mers is the place to go!

The many wine and music festivals, authentic farmer markets, sporting events and the kindness of the inhabitants will definitely make your visit to this region unforgettable!