View source for Regional Bordeaux AOCs

[[File:Rothschild white Bordeaux.jpg|right|thumb|A dry white Bordeaux.]]
In the [[Bordeaux wine]] region there are seven '''regional ''[[Appellations d'origine contrôlée]]''''' (AOCs) that may be used throughout the [[Gironde]] department. These are '''Bordeaux Rouge AOC, Bordeaux Supérieur Rouge, Bordeaux Clairet, Bordeaux Rosé, Bordeaux Blanc,''' a dry white, '''Bordeaux Supérieur Blanc,''' a sweet white, and ''Crémant de Bordeaux'', a sparkling [[Traditional method|méthode traditionnelle]] wine. The regional appellations together form the largest world-class wine vineyard, making up more than half of the production of the prestigious Bordeaux wine region, and representing more than 55% of all Bordeaux wines consumed in the world.<ref>CIVB Economie et Etudes 16/11/2010</ref>

== Bordeaux AOC ==

=== Wine style ===

The entry-level Bordeaux AOC reds are fruity and easy-to-drink, and meant for early consumption rather than cellaring. More ambitious reds are usually sold as Bordeaux Supérieur AOC.

Notable exceptions to the general rule of Bordeaux AOC as simpler wines are some dry white wines produced in [[Médoc]] and [[Graves (wine region)|Sauternes]], where the production of red and sweet wines dominate. In difference from most of [[Graves (wine region)|Graves]], these areas are not allowed to use any other designation than Bordeaux Blanc AOC for dry white wines. Thus, some very ambitious and expensive dry white wines, such as [[Château Margaux]]'s ''Pavillon Blanc'' and [[Château d'Yquem]]'s ''"Y"'' have to be classified as "simple" Bordeaux Blancs.

All [[rosé]] and [[clairet]] wines are produced under regional appellations.

=== Production and area ===

The vineyard area devoted to the production of Bordeaux AOC wines is approximately {{convert|61,700|ha|acre}}, of which {{convert|50,000|ha|acre}} are used for red wine<ref name="Bx red">[http://www.vins-bordeaux.fr/Tout-Vins/Appellation.aspx?contentId=87&culture=en-US&country=OTHERS#TabMenu Bordeaux.com: Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur: Appellations: Bordeaux] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721024641/http://www.vins-bordeaux.fr/Tout-Vins/Appellation.aspx?contentId=87&culture=en-US&country=OTHERS#TabMenu |date=2011-07-21 }}, accessed on 1 October 2008</ref> and {{convert|6740|ha|acre}} for white wine.<ref name="Bx white">[http://www.vins-bordeaux.fr/Tout-Vins/Appellation.aspx?contentId=122&culture=en-US&country=OTHERS#TabMenu Bordeaux.com: Dry white wine: Appellations: Bordeaux] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721025159/http://www.vins-bordeaux.fr/Tout-Vins/Appellation.aspx?contentId=122&culture=en-US&country=OTHERS#TabMenu |date=2011-07-21 }}, accessed on 1 October 2008</ref>

Average yearly production is 3,300,000 hectolitres, corresponding to approximately 431 million 75 cl bottles, with 2,300,100 hectolitres of red wine<ref name="Bx red"/> and 304,000 hectolitres of white wine.<ref name="Bx white"/>

The maximal authorized yield for Bordeaux AOC is 55 hectoliter per hectare, and the alcohol level of the wine must be between 10 and 13 volume percent.<ref name="Bx red"/> Dry white Bordeaux may not have more than 4&nbsp;grams per litre of [[residual sugar]].<ref name="Bx white"/>

=== Grape varieties ===

For red wines, the most planted grape varietals are [[Merlot]] and [[Cabernet Sauvignon]]. As most regional Bordeaux AOC wines are produced on the Right Bank, [[Cabernet Franc]] is often found in the blend. Winemakers are using more and more [[Malbec]],<ref>http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2011/10/07/glamorous-malbec-from-chateau-tire-pe/ Glamorous Malbec From Château Tire Pe, article by Fredric Koeppel</ref> but [[Petit Verdot]] is not often seen.

For white wines, [[Sauvignon blanc]] and [[Sémillon]] each represent 42% of the vineyard surface and [[Muscadelle]] 9%.<ref name="Bx white"/>

== Bordeaux Supérieur Rouge AOC ==
[[File:Château Recougne Bordeaux Supérieur red wine.jpg|thumb|A bottle of Bordeaux Supérieur red wine]]
The Bordeaux Supérieur appellation covers the same geographic area as Bordeaux AOC. However, the wine in this appellation is often produced by single parcels of older vines. Moreover, Bordeaux Supérieur wines must be [[aging wine|aged]] for at least nine months before they can be sold.{{fact|date=December 2017}}

Just like regular Bordeaux these are blends, with the reds being predominantly [[Cabernet Sauvignon]] and [[Merlot]] with smaller amounts of [[Cabernet Franc]], [[Petit Verdot]], [[Malbec]] and even some [[Carmenere]], such as at [[Château Damase]].  For the white wines, [[Sauvignon Blanc]] and [[Semillon]] are favored  with smaller amounts of [[Muscadelle]], [[Ugni Blanc]], and [[Sauvignon Gris]].

Under the strict guidelines of French appellation law for a Bordeaux to be classified as Supérieur it must come from a vineyard that is planted more densely.  There must be 4,500 plants per hectare with a distance of 2.2 meters between rows, compared to 4,000 plants per hectare with a distance of 2.5 meters between rows for regular Bordeaux.  This higher density makes it harder for the plants to survive creating stronger deeper roots, and healthier vines for the ones that do.

The regulations also stipulate  a lower [[yield (wine)|yield]], about 10 percent lower per hectare, which allows each vine to maximize the nutrients received by the grapes that have not been pruned.  The grapes must also be picked riper at harvest with higher natural sugar levels resulting in 10 percent natural alcohol level -- a slight bit higher than the 9.5 percent for regular Bordeaux.

Bordeaux Supérieur can be found anywhere in Bordeaux, but is biased towards the area north of [[Saint-Émilion AOC|Saint-Émilion]] and [[Pomerol AOC|Pomerol]]. The result of these differences usually creates a superior wine with a richer and more complex flavor.<ref>[http://www.vinovinonline.com/blogs/news/19186303-bordeaux-superieur Bordeaux Superieur] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417174520/http://www.vinovinonline.com/blogs/news/19186303-bordeaux-superieur |date=2015-04-17 }} From Vinovin Online, Retrieved April 17, 2015</ref>

=== Production and surface ===

Yearly production:  489,230 hectolitres<ref name="Bx Sup">[http://www.vins-bordeaux.fr/Tout-Vins/Appellation.aspx?contentId=88&culture=en-US&country=OTHERS#TabMenu Bordeaux.com: Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur: Appellations: Bordeaux Supérieur] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721025207/http://www.vins-bordeaux.fr/Tout-Vins/Appellation.aspx?contentId=88&culture=en-US&country=OTHERS#TabMenu |date=2011-07-21 }}, accessed on 7 November 2010</ref>

Surface : {{convert|4725|ha|km2}}

== Bordeaux Clairet AOC ==

Bordeaux clairet is a generic AOC for the Bordeaux defined as ''"[[clairet]]"''. All other appellations in the Bordeaux region, including the most prestigious ones, are entitled to produce under this AOC. Bordeaux clairet is a wine which can either be described as a dark [[rosé wine]] or a light-coloured [[red wine]]. As there is also a more commonly used ''Bordeaux rosé'' designation, Bordeaux clairet is not simply any rosé from Bordeaux.

Bordeaux clairet wines are similar in colour to the wines which were shipped from [[Bordeaux]] to England during the [[Middle Ages]], known as ''French Claret''. These wines established the fame of Bordeaux as a wine-making region, and led to the (primarily English) practice of referring to Bordeaux as "[[claret]]". They are refreshing wines, appreciated because they can be easily enjoyed with picnics or exotic food.

=== Production and surface ===

Yearly production is 52,000 [[hectolitre]]s from 925 [[hectare]]s of vineyard surface.<ref name="Bx Clairet">[http://www.vins-bordeaux.fr/Tout-Vins/Appellation.aspx?contentId=89&culture=en-US&country=OTHERS#TabMenu Bordeaux.com: Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur: Appellations: Bordeaux Clairet] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911200828/http://www.vins-bordeaux.fr/Tout-Vins/Appellation.aspx?contentId=89&culture=en-US&country=OTHERS#TabMenu |date=2011-09-11 }}, accessed on 5 October 2008</ref> Maximum authorized yield is 55 hectolitres per hectare.

=== Grape varieties ===

The authorized grape varieties are the same as red Bordeaux AOC although Merlot is the most common of this AOC.

== Summary of characteristics ==

Production requirements and statistics for the various regional AOCs are as follows:

{| class="wikitable"
! AOC || Bordeaux (red) || Bordeaux Clairet || Bordeaux Rosé || Bordeaux Supérieur (red) || Bordeaux (white) || Bordeaux Sec || Bordeaux Supérieur (white)
|- 
| colspan="8" align="center" | '''AOC requirements'''<ref name="Bx AOC rules">[http://www.inao.gouv.fr/public/produits/showTexte.php?comiteNat=1&id_txt=29 INAO: Appellation rules for AOC Bordeaux, Bordeaux clairet, Bordeaux rosé, Bordeaux sec, Bordeaux Côtes de Francs and Bordeaux Haut-Benauge] {{in lang|fr}}</ref><ref name="Bx sup AOC rules">[http://www.inao.gouv.fr/public/produits/showTexte.php?comiteNat=1&id_txt=885 INAO: Appellation rules for AOC Bordeaux supérieur, updated until July 12, 2006] {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
|- 
| Allowed grape varieties || colspan="4" | [[Cabernet Sauvignon]], [[Cabernet Franc]], [[Carmenère]], [[Merlot]] rouge, [[Malbec]], [[Petit Verdot]] || colspan="2" | ''Principal grape varieties (min 70%)'': [[Sémillon]], [[Sauvignon blanc]], [[Sauvignon gris]], [[Muscadelle]] <br/> ''Accessory grape varieties (max 30%)'': [[Merlot blanc]], [[Colombard]], [[Mauzac (grape)|Mauzac]], [[Ondenc]], [[Ugni blanc]] || ''Principal grape varieties (min 70%)'': Sémillon, Sauvignon (blanc and gris), Muscadelle <br/> ''Accessory grape varieties (max 30%)'': Merlot blanc (max 15%), Colombard, Mauzac, Ondenc, Ugni blanc
|- 
| Specific colour requirement (if applicable) ||  || align="center" | lightly coloured red || align="center" | rosé ||  ||  ||  || 
|- 
| [[Grape ripeness]] (in terms of minimum sugar content) || colspan="2" align="center" | 178 g/L || align="center" | 187 g/L || colspan="2" align="center" | 178 g/L || align="center" | 170 g/L || align="center" | 212 g/L
|- 
| Alcohol content after fermentation || colspan="2" align="center" | min 10% || align="center" | min 11% || align="center" | min 10.5% || align="center"| min 10.5% (potential) <br/> min 10% (actual) || align="center" | min 10% <br/> max 13% || align="center" | min 12.5% (potential) <br/> max 15% (potential) <br/> min 11.5% (actual) 
|- 
| Residual sugar (if applicable) ||  ||  ||  ||  || align="center" | min 4 g/L  || align="center" | max 4 g/L || 
|- 
| Base yield || colspan="3" align="center" | 55 hl/ha || align="center" | 50 hl/ha || colspan="2" align="center" | 65 hl/ha || align="center" | 50 hl/ha 
|- 
| Minimum planting density || colspan="7" align="center" | 2,000 vines per ha
|- 
| Maximum number of buds kept after pruning || colspan="7" align="center" | 60,000 per ha
|- 
| Maturation requirement (if applicable), earliest sale date ||  ||  ||  || align="center" | 1 July the year after harvest ||  ||  || align="center" | 1 July the year after harvest
|- 
| colspan="8" align="center" | '''Production statistics'''<ref name="Bx red"/><ref name="Bx white"/><ref name="Bx Sup"/><ref name="Bx Clairet"/><ref name="Bx Rosé">[http://www.vins-bordeaux.fr/Tout-Vins/Appellation.aspx?contentId=90&culture=en-US&country=OTHERS#TabMenu Bordeaux.com: Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur: Appellations: Bordeaux Rosé] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911200556/http://www.vins-bordeaux.fr/Tout-Vins/Appellation.aspx?contentId=90&culture=en-US&country=OTHERS#TabMenu |date=2011-09-11 }}, accessed on 5 October 2008</ref>
|- 
| Vineyard surface || align="center" | 44,000 ha || align="center" | 925 ha || align="center" | 3,300 ha || align="center" | 10,000 ha || colspan="2" align="center" | 6,740 ha || 
|- 
| Average annual production || align="center" | 2,500,000 hl || align="center" | 52,000 hl || align="center" | 180,000 hl || align="center" | 530,000 hl || colspan="2" align="center" | 420,000 hl<!-- rounded off from 418,650 ha --> || 
|}

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

== See also ==
* [[List of Vins de Primeur]]
* [[Bordeaux wine]]

[[Category:Bordeaux AOCs]]