Côtes de Bordeaux

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• The Côtes de Bordeaux appellation spans 110 communes in the Gironde département, structured around five historic viticultural centres: Blaye, Cadillac, Castillon-la-Bataille, Francs, and Sainte-Foy-la-Grande.
• The proximity of the Atlantic Ocean, the Gironde estuary, and the valleys of the Garonne and Dordogne rivers plays an important thermoregulatory role and moderates the effects of spring frosts.
• In the Sainte-Foy-la-Grande area, the Dordogne gives rise to a mild, humid microclimate characterised by nocturnal mists at the end of summer.
• The oceanic climate becomes more continental in the eastern part of the Côtes de Bordeaux area, in the Francs sector; combined with autumnal temperature swings, this produces a pronounced vintage effect.
• In the north-eastern part of the Côtes de Bordeaux area, the principal geological formation consists of the 'Sables du Périgord', a thick sequence of pebbles, gravels, sands, and clays originating from the Massif Central.
• On the left bank of the Dordogne, lacustrine limestones known as 'calcaires de Castillon' develop over several metres of depth, resting on argillaceous and sandy molasse.
• The relief combines the plain and the foot of the slope, exposed mainly to the south-west, with a steep hillside face whose elevation difference ranges from around thirty metres to more than seventy metres.

• As early as the 2nd century, the Romans planted the first vines of Vitis Biturica, the ancestor of the 'cabernet' grape varieties, and the writings of Ausonius in the 4th century attest to the reputation of these vineyards as far afield as Rome.
• The bastide town of Sainte-Foy-la-Grande, founded in 1255 on the banks of the Dordogne by Alphonse de Poitiers, became a strategic stronghold through which wines were shipped to England.
• Five appellations are recognised by decree around each of the viticultural centres of the Côtes de Bordeaux, including Premières Côtes de Blaye on 11 September 1936 and Bordeaux-Côtes de Castillon on 15 July 1955, which became Côtes de Castillon on 9 February 1989.
• On the right bank of the Garonne, red wines are produced mainly from Bassens in the north, while at Saint-Maixant in the south the microclimate is favourable to the production of white wines with residual sugar.

• The red wines of the Castillon denomination display a deep ruby colour with notes of prune, leather, and game, and have excellent ageing potential.
• The red wines of the Cadillac denomination have a deep, almost black colour and are best enjoyed between 4 and 10 years, or even longer, during which period their structure softens and their bouquet gains in complexity.
• The dry white wines of the Sainte-Foy denomination develop aromas of white flowers and fresh fruit through the blending of Sémillon with Muscadelle, with a finish showing notes of exotic fruit.
• The red wines of the Sainte-Foy denomination gain in complexity and structure through blending with Cabernet franc and Cabernet sauvignon.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

Dénominations géographiques complémentaires

• Côtes de Bordeaux Blaye AOC (PDO)
• Côtes de Bordeaux Cadillac AOC (PDO)
• Côtes de Bordeaux Castillon AOC (PDO)
• Côtes de Bordeaux Francs AOC (PDO)
• Côtes de Bordeaux Sainte-Foy AOC (PDO)

All appellations in France

Sources

• Product specification (BO Agri, PDF) — approved 29 décembre 2025, JORF 9 janvier 2026
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — CIVB