Graves de Vayres
Styles
Principal grape varieties
Cabernet FrancCabernet-SauvignonCarmenèreCotMerlotPetit Verdot (Verdot Petit)MuscadelleSauvignonSauvignon GrisSémillon
Accessory grape varieties
Terroir
Natural factors
- Left bank of the Dordogne, west of Libourne (Gironde), covering 2 communes: Vayres and Arveyres.
- Soils are very sandy and beige, or clay-gravel (a gravelly fraction within ochre clay), well-drained and only slightly acidic. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
- The vineyard plateau sits at 20–30 m elevation, on a gentle north/north-eastward slope toward the Dordogne, bordering its concave bank.
- Oceanic mesoclimate influenced by the mass of water of the Dordogne, the steep relief of the opposite bank, and the proximity of the tertre de Fronsac.
Human factors
- The AOC Graves de Vayres, recognised by decree on 31 July 1937, had already been upheld by a court ruling of 11 February 1928 against a challenge from the Graves de Bordeaux.
Product characteristics
- Reds are dominated by merlot N: a round, velvety character with a red-fruit nose; ageing potential of 5 to 10 years depending on the proportion of cabernet-sauvignon N.
- Dry whites: liveliness contributed by sauvignon B, richness by sémillon B; medium-sweet whites are made from over-ripened sémillon and are supple in style.
Terroir / wine link
- The meander of the Dordogne creates a mesoclimate — cool summers and autumn mists — that encourages red-fruit aromas and the freshness of the whites.
Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.
Sources
- Product specification (BO Agri, PDF), JORF 3 décembre 2025
- Official INAO text (show_texte)
- INAO product entry
- Official trade body site — CIVB