The ship moved from Bordeaux to Le Verdon and I decided to do another tour here instead of sitting on ship. The Medoc region is the furthest north in this wine region. Why is wine produced here world famous. Medoc is between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gironde river, very fertile soil and temperate climate. Wine has been produced since the middle ages.
The French regulate everything in wine production. A chateau is not what you think. These wineries have been passed down from family generation to generation. The chateau is actually part of the wine production, no one actually lives in them. As u drive around most chateaus have their winery name painted on the side. The chateaus are usually made of stone surrounded by the vines. Quite beautiful.
Soil is made up of limestone, sand, soil and clay. The soil determines the type of wine made, and most are a mix. 700 million bottles are produced each year, they ship worldwide, and 85% are red. The French authorities determine the wine classification, 1st and 2nd at the top. I saw wines selling for over $300 euros, this is very big business!
Wineries cannot irrigate, the ocean climate and rain provide enough moisture. It takes around 4 years from vine to bottle, they hope a frost or ice storm doesn’t hit. Medoc has lost entire year of wine, losing millions of euros. They take wine very seriously.
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