Larger than the Medoc but producing half the amount of wine, Graves forged a reputation for claret in England, with trade dating back to the marriage of Eleanor d’Aquitaine and the English king in the 12C. Wine production in the region, which stretches from the left bank of the Garonne to the forest of Les Landes, dates back to the 1st century. The name comes from the region’s gravelly, pebbly soil which is perfect for grape growing.
And then there’s neighbouring Sauternes. In the 1855 classification of Bordeaux, the Medoc was the source of all but one red wine - but Sauternes was the source of all the golden whites. The most famous of them all, Yquem was singled out as a Premier Cru supérieur and the rest of the classified chateaux were divided into two categories. The 3 appellations are Graves, Pessac Léognan and Sauternes-Barsac.