The Bordeaux vineyards produce a wide range of fine wines : reds, rosés, dry whites, sweet whites and dessert wines, as well as sparkling wines. Over the last ten years, total annual production of Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée wines in the Bordeaux area has been on average 5,450,000 hectolitres. In 1998, it reached 6,600,000 hectolitres (about 870 million bottles). 115,000 hectares produce A.O.C. wines.

In 1936, the INAO (Institut National des Appellations d’Origine), established a wine classification. Quality control was added to the idea of physical origin, creating the “appellation d’origine contrôlée”, which now governs 98 % of Bordeaux wine production.

Due to the great diversity of soils and micro-climates, the Bordeaux vineyards include 57 Appellations d’Origine Contrôlée (A.O.C.), which can be communal or regional. They are normally put into 7 groups.

For more information on Bordeaux wines:
www.vins-bordeaux.fr

For more information on Bordeaux Chateaux: www.monaoc.com