AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée)
Protected Designation Bordeaux AOC
France › Bordeaux
French regional AOC appellation covering red, white (dry and sweet), rosé, and sparkling wines produced throughout the Bordeaux wine region of southwestern France. The foundational appellation for the world's largest fine wine region.
Established 1936 90 years
2 Permitted Varieties
3 Regulatory Constraints
2 Official Sources
90 Years of History
Permitted Grape Varieties
01 Red: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Carmenère
02 White: Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle, Sauvignon Gris
Regulatory Constraints
§1
Maximum yield: 55 hl/ha (red), 65 hl/ha (white)
§2
Minimum alcohol: 10% vol (red), 10.5% vol (white)
§3
Bordeaux Supérieur: 10.5% vol minimum, 50 hl/ha maximum
Bordeaux AOC
Technical Summary
- Classification: AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) — regional appellation
- EU Registration: Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)
- Geographic scope: Entire Gironde department plus parts of Dordogne and Lot-et-Garonne
- Wine types: Red, dry white, rosé, clairet
- Position: Base-level regional appellation; numerous sub-appellations exist (Pauillac, Margaux, Saint-Émilion, Pomerol, Pessac-Léognan, Sauternes, etc.)
Regulatory Constraints (Verified)
Ampelographic Composition
Red varieties (authorized):
White varieties (authorized):
-
Muscadelle
-
Sauvignon Gris
-
Colombard (limited)
-
Merlot Blanc (limited)
-
Ugni Blanc (limited)
-
Source: Cahier des Charges AOC Bordeaux, Art. 5
Geographic Delimitation
- Primary department: Gironde (entire department)
- Secondary: Parts of Dordogne and Lot-et-Garonne
- Total vineyard area: ~110,000 hectares AOC Bordeaux family
- Source: Cahier des Charges AOC Bordeaux, Art. 3
Yield Limits
| Wine Type | Maximum Yield |
|---|---|
| Bordeaux Rouge | 55 hl/ha |
| Bordeaux Blanc | 65 hl/ha |
| Bordeaux Rosé | 55 hl/ha |
| Bordeaux Clairet | 55 hl/ha |
| Bordeaux Supérieur Rouge | 50 hl/ha |
- Source: Cahier des Charges AOC Bordeaux, Art. 7
Minimum Alcohol
| Wine Type | Minimum Alcohol |
|---|---|
| Bordeaux Rouge | 10.0% vol |
| Bordeaux Blanc | 10.5% vol |
| Bordeaux Rosé | 10.0% vol |
| Bordeaux Supérieur | 10.5% vol |
- Source: Cahier des Charges AOC Bordeaux, Art. 8
Bordeaux Supérieur Requirements
- Yield: Maximum 50 hl/ha (vs. 55 for standard)
- Alcohol: Minimum 10.5% vol (vs. 10.0% for standard)
- Aging: Minimum aging requirements before release
- Source: Cahier des Charges AOC Bordeaux Supérieur
Vinification Requirements
- Chaptalisation: Permitted within EU limits
- Acidification: Permitted under specific conditions
- Oak aging: Not required but permitted
- Source: Cahier des Charges AOC Bordeaux, Art. 8
Enological Implications
Evidence-Backed Implications
Blending flexibility: See Wine Blending Principles and Blending Strategies and Timing
- No minimum percentages for individual varieties
- Allows significant vintage-to-vintage adaptation
- Merlot typically dominates plantings (~65% of red)
Regional vs. sub-appellation positioning:
- Bordeaux AOC is base tier; declassification from higher appellations common
- Economic flexibility: same vineyard may produce AOC Bordeaux or higher classification
- Quality wines may be declassified for commercial reasons
Operational Observations
Second wine/third wine strategy:
- Classified growth properties often declassify to Bordeaux AOC
- Provides market flexibility for younger vines, lesser parcels
- Volume management tool
Entry-level market position:
- Price-competitive segment
- Large-scale production common
- Quality range significant within appellation
Frequent Compliance Risks
Yield Management
- Risk: Exceeding 55 hl/ha (red) or 65 hl/ha (white)
- Impact: Excess cannot be declared AOC
- Mitigation: Green harvest; vineyard monitoring
Sub-Appellation Declassification Documentation
- Risk: Inadequate traceability for declassified wines
- Impact: Origin verification issues
- Mitigation: Lot tracking systems; documentation
Varietal Compliance
- Risk: Using non-authorized varieties
- Impact: Cannot be labeled Bordeaux AOC
- Mitigation: Vineyard registration verification
Relevant Grape Varieties
- Cabernet Sauvignon — primary red variety
- Merlot — dominant red variety by area
- Cabernet Franc — red variety
- Petit Verdot — color and structure component
- Malbec — historical variety (Côt)
- Sauvignon Blanc — primary white variety
- Sémillon — dominant white variety for sweet wines
- Chardonnay — NOT permitted in Bordeaux AOC
Related Appellations
Left Bank (Médoc)
- Pauillac AOC — home to First Growths (Latour, Lafite, Mouton)
- Margaux AOC — elegant, perfumed wines
- Saint-Julien AOC — consistent quality across classified châteaux
- Pessac-Léognan AOC — red and dry white
Right Bank
- Saint-Émilion AOC — Merlot and Cabernet Franc dominant
- Pomerol AOC — home to Pétrus
Sweet Wines
- Sauternes AOC — botrytized sweet wines
Related Articles
- Wine Blending Principles
- Blending Strategies and Timing
- Oak Integration and Tannin Management
- Extended Maceration Techniques
- Climate Change and Viticulture
- Harvest Timing Decisions
Reference Producers
Technical benchmarks (listed for comparative study, not endorsement):
| Producer | Technical Notes |
|---|---|
| Château Latour | Pauillac; Cabernet Sauvignon dominant (~75%); clay-gravel soils; long-aging program |
| Château Lafite Rothschild | Pauillac; Cabernet Sauvignon dominant (~70%); fine-grained tannin extraction |
| Château Mouton Rothschild | Pauillac; Cabernet Sauvignon dominant (~80%); elevated to First Growth 1973 |
| Château Margaux | Margaux; Cabernet Sauvignon dominant (~75%); gravel soils; extended barrel aging |
| Château Haut-Brion | Pessac-Léognan; Merlot-Cabernet blend; oldest continuously operating estate |
| Château Pétrus | Pomerol; clay plateau; 100% Merlot; new French oak aging |
| Château Cheval Blanc | Saint-Émilion; Cabernet Franc-Merlot blend (~50/50); diverse soil parcels |
| Château Ausone | Saint-Émilion; limestone plateau; Cabernet Franc dominant; low yields |
| Château d’Yquem | Sauternes; Sémillon-dominant; multiple botrytis harvest passes; extended barrel aging |
References
-
Cahier des Charges AOC Bordeaux
- INAO
- URL: https://www.inao.gouv.fr/
-
Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux (CIVB)
Last Updated: January 6, 2026