Bordeaux Wine region – With the different micro climates there are many different wines produced in the region.

The Saint Emillion region consists of limestone, clay and sand.  The city sits on top a series of limestone caves where the wine is stored and was hidden during WWII.   The area consists of many small family estates usually under a 100 hectors(2.5 acres in a hector).  The first press of the grapes can carry the name of Chateau(which means vineyard).

 

Many of the estates in this area are either organic or biodynamic.  Biodynamic growers use the lunar configuration and the ancient ways of farming. Horses are used to minimize the damage to the soil.

 

Saint Emillion village gets over 1 million visitors a year.   Wine is its industry.  There are as many wine stores there as there are Starbucks in Seattle.

We were told many times by the winer merchantes it is not the variety/label of wine, but the REGION that produced it.