Graves (wine region)

Graves (French: [ɡʁav], gravelly land) is an important subregion of the Bordeaux wine region.

Graves is situated on the left bank of the Garonne River, in the upstream part of the region, southeast of the city Bordeaux and stretches over 50 kilometres (31 mi).

The area encompasses villages including Sauternes, Pessac, Talence, Léognan, Martillac, Saint-Morillon, and Portets.

At that time, the Médoc subregion, north of Bordeaux, still consisted of marshland unsuitable for viticulture though Graves were naturally better drained.

Château Pape Clément, which was founded at the turn of the 14th century by the future Pope Clement V, was the first named chateau in all of Bordeaux.

[4] In 1987, the part of Graves containing most of the producers of its most expensive wines, closest to the city of Bordeaux itself, created a separate AOC under the name Pessac-Léognan.

A well-known sweet white dessert wine is made in the commune of Sauternes, which is located in the southeast corner of the Graves region.

[4] Sauternes is an appellation of Graves known for its intensely sweet, white, dessert wines such as the Premier Cru Supérieur classified Château d'Yquem.

The intense sweetness is the result of the grapes being affected by Botrytis cinerea, a fungus commonly known as noble rot.

Even with half bottles of the First Growths priced at several hundred dollars, these wines still have difficulties turning a profit, and in the mid 20th century, a string of bad vintages drove many growers in the region out of business.