Dordogne Wine Region Guide

Dordogne is a rural wine-growing district in Southwest France, also known as Perigord in ancient times. For its food, wine, landscape, and cultural heritage, the region has long been a popular tourist, vacation, and ex-pat destination. Hundreds of villages and hamlets are scattered along the rolling hills of the Dordogne river. The Dordogne wine region is home to 22 villages that are among the most beautiful in France. This incredible wine region produces some of the best Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Bordeaux Blend in the world, owing to the same warm climate and Atlantic influences as its neighboring Bordeaux wine region.

Check out the best wine tastings and tours in Dordogne!

Where is the Dordogne wine region?

The Dordogne wine region is located in Southwest France, between the Aquitaine Basin and the Massif Central, with its center in Perigueux. The region is part of France's largest administrative region, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, and is situated at the crossroads of the Loire Valley and the Pyrenees. The Dordogne river, a tributary of the Gironde, runs through the region. The wine region of Dordogne is located east of Entre Deux Mers and north of Cotes du Marmandais. The Dordogne river, which flows horizontally and meets the Gironde north of Bordeaux, divides the region into two sections.

History of the Dordogne wine region

The region is said to be first inhabited by Gauls and was home to four tribal groups. Dordogne was captured by Romans which led to the destruction of most of the structures of the ancient county. Like many French wine regions, viticulture, and wine production were introduced in the Dordogne wine region by the Roman settlers. The monks continued wine production with the development of viticulture along the Dordogne river. The region was passed to the English crown in 1152. The right of the Dordogne bounced between France and England for over three centuries until its end in 1453. The region has to face wars of religion in the second half of the 16th century. Finally, in the 18th century, the region was returned to France during the French revolution. 

The terroir and geography of the Dordogne wine region

Dordogne is the third-largest administrative zone of France with vines planted along the banks of the Dordogne river and the slope of rolling hills of the valley. The region has a very similar climate and Atlantic influence as its neighboring Bordeaux. The rainfall is quite low in the region, which is why the vines are planted on water-retaining soil. The soil is mostly clay and limestone which provides essentials to grow characterful grapes. 

Popular grape varieties from the Dordogne wine region

The Dordogne wine region, like its neighbor, the Bordeaux wine region, produces wines from the same grape varieties. The region also has similar terroir, resulting in wines of comparable quality and affordability. The following grape varieties are permitted in the Dordogne wine region.

Red Varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Fer Servadou, Tannat, and Merille.

White varietals: Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Muscadelle, Ugni Blanc, Ondenc, Chenin Blanc.

Food to pair with Dordogne wine 

Lambchop

Lambchop is a popular dish that is enjoyed worldwide. The two most common types of cuts used to prepare this savory dish are loin and rib chops that are at least one inch thick. The meat is marinated in basic seasoning for a day before cooking. The meat is pan-seared on both sides until browned before being baked for a few hours. The end result is tender and juicy meat that can be eaten plain or with some sauce on top. Lamb chops are typically served in pieces with mashed potatoes on the side. The game flavor in this chop pairs well with red wines from the Dordogne wine region.

Lasagne alla Bolognese

Layers of handmade, frequently spinach-flavored fresh egg lasagna noodles are layered with béchamel sauce and ragù alla Bolognese, a thick beef sauce, in this rich and substantial piatto unico.

Before baking, lasagne alla Bolognese is liberally coated with Parmigiano-Reggiano, the Emilian king of cheeses, and baked until soft on the inside and crisp on top. This traditional oven-baked dish is popular in Emilia-Romagna, particularly in Bologna. This dish's popularity has grown over time, and it has become a global symbol of Italian cuisine. This light dish pairs well with Dordogne wines.

Portobello mushrooms

Portobello mushroom is similar to white button mushroom but older. These mushrooms are brown and huge in comparison to younger white mushrooms.

The marinade, oil, and spices are applied to both sides of the portobello mushrooms before grilling the cap side down until slightly charred. Lemon juice, cheese, or vinaigrette are common additions to the dish. These portobello mushrooms have a meaty flavor that pairs well with smooth red wines from the Dordogne.

Places to visit in the Dordogne wine region

Dordogne wine region is home to more than 1500 castles and 22 of the most beautiful villages in France. The place is just magical when it comes to landscape and cultural heritage. 

Château de Commarque

The castle was built in the 12th century on a hill between Sarlat and Les Eyzies in Southern France, overlooking the valley of Vezere. The castle was said to have been built at the request of the abbots of Sarlat in order to protect the valley from potential attacks. The castle is strategically located at the intersection of two major routes, Perigueux-Cahors and Brive-La-Gaillarde-Bergerac. The Beynac family besieged and rebuilt the castle with fortifications. The keep was built in the 18th century. The castle was seized by the Englishmen for several years during the Hundred Years War. The Catholics captured the castle after the French Revolutionary Wars. The chateau also has a prehistoric cave beneath it. Since 1943, the French Ministry of Culture has designated the castle as a historic monument.

Château de Beynac

The castle is located in Beynac-et-Cazenac, in the Dordogne region, on the north bank of the Dordogne river, atop a limestone cliff overlooking the town. This is one of the most well-preserved and well-known castles in the Dordogne region. This spectacular Romanesque structure dates back to the twelve century and was built by the Barons of Beynac. The castle was fortified sufficiently to protect the town from any intruders from this side of town. The castle still has a large square-shaped keep and other structures from its early days that have withstood the test of time. The castle was remodeled and expanded in the 16th and 17th centuries. During the Hundred Years War, the fortress served as a border fortification between France and England, fortifying French territories. Lucien Grosso purchased the castle in 1962 and restored it to its current state. Since 1944, the French Ministry of Culture has designated the chateau as a historic monument.

Frequently asked questions about Dordogne