Graves

Graves wine region is on the left bank of the Bordeaux wine region in France, it is a naturally warm climate appellation. Graves is renowned for its attractive wineries, beautiful vineyards and natural scenery. Red and white wines are favorites around here, because they're elegant and perfect for your taste palate.

Read more about Wine Tasting and Tours in Graves and browse our selection of wine tours.

History of Graves

Although wine on the Left Bank of Bordeaux is mainly associated with the Médoc, especially the communes of Pauillac, St. Julien, and Margaux, Graves has its own unique place as a wine-producing appellation with a long tradition of winemaking and colorful history.

Graves is the area many wine historians describe as the appellation, where the Romans planted grapes to produce wine almost 2,000 years ago. Even two thousand years ago, the Romans knew that this region had the potential to become a popular wine-producing appellation.

In the year 1152, wine from Graves was exported to England and its popularity was increasing day by day. Later, in 1305, when Cardinal Bertrand de Goth was elected as the Pope, he received a vineyard of La Mothe in Graves as a gift. As historians describe, he was a wine lover who was interested in winemaking. Today, the vineyards he received are known as Château Pape Clément, which continues to amaze wine lovers with its exceptional quality.

From the 17th century to the present

By the early 1700s, a few small appellations started cultivating grapes on the Right Bank of Bordeaux. Even in the Médoc, a little village called St-Estèphe had started cultivating the Cabernet grape too. Graves, however, still was the most famous area to find the best wine in at that time.

all appellations started cultivating grapes on the Right Bank of Bordeaux. Even in the Médoc, a little village St-Estèphe had started cultivating the Cabernet grape too. Over the next hundred years, the vineyard plantings on the Right Bank took large leaps forward. This is the period when Dutch traders - for more economic access to the wines - started to fill the swamps in the Médoc area and cultivating the former marshes. By the time of the 1855 classification, Médoc was now dominating the Left Bank of Bordeaux. However, Graves remained a popular appellation among producers and wine lovers.

In 1987 the Graves appellation was split in two. While vineyards in the south remained in the Graves, vineyards from Pessac and Leognan were assigned a new, separate appellation status. However, Graves is still a popular wine appellation and commands high prices for the best bottles of wine.

Where is Graves located?

Graves extends south from the city of Bordeaux to Langon, bordering the Garonne from the left as it passes the great havens for botrytis wines of Cérons, Barsac, and Sauternes. Starting where the Médoc finishes, it skirts the western limits of the city of Bordeaux and continues parallel to the Gironde down to the southern extremity of the Bordeaux region.

The vineyards stretch from La Brède to Langon, in a strip of land 55 km long and 10 km wide. The vineyards are bordered to the west and south by a pine forest and the east by the Garonne River.

This region has much more in the way of historical artifacts, castles, cathedrals, and tourist attractions than the Médoc to the north, and is often one of the more visited areas of France. The gravel soil ripples out from Bordeaux in waves, leading into forest land that has much more contour than the flat vineyards to the north.

Terroir of Graves

The name of the appellation says a lot about its terroir. This place is mostly characterized by gravel soils after which it is named Graves. The territory of the Graves covers almost 3,500 hectares. With such a large area, you find various soil types and levels of quality. Red wine grapes mostly grow in gravel, pebbles, quartz, sand, and clay soils, while white grapes grow in clay, limestone, and gravel soils.

The terroir of Graves is absolutely suitable for vine growing. The climate is influenced by ocean breezes and the unique soil consists of gravelly, sand, clay, and some limestone outcrops. These diverse soil types and shifting micro-climates allows the Graves appellation to produce numerous red, white, and sweet wines.

The region has large forest land that plays an essential role in the terroir cooling process. Also, the appellation is located right next to the Garonne river, which delivers much-needed moisture to the vines in the dry vintages. Thanks to all the natural circumstances, Graves is a perfect place to grow high-quality grapes.

The birthplace of Bordeaux's high-quality red wines

Graves remain one of the most important wine regions among wine lovers. Numerous small estates are making excellent wines that are delicious in the youth. Among the Graves, three appellations produce great wines: Graves rouges, graves Blancs, and graves supérieurs.

The natural conditions and climate of the region significantly determine the characteristics of the grapes. While walking down the vineyards, you will notice that pebbles are collected and placed next to them. They store the heat of the sun during the day and release the heat to the grapes until late at night. This technique helps the ripening process and increases the sugar level in the grapes. Producers often plant rose bushes at end of each vine row. This is a great way to determine the early stage of plant disease.

The most famous red grapes planted in Graves are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Carmenere. For the dry white wine, they use Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle, and Sauvignon Gris.

The red wines of Graves are recognizable by their garnet-red color, rich, attractive, and more robust than the other Médoc wines. They are aromatic, refined, and can offer a smoky sensation. Most of them can be enjoyed in their youth without much if any cellaring.

The best white wines from Graves are generally fresh, fruity, and dry (sometimes half-dry). They have the aromas of yellow citrus, grapefruit, and green apple. Because of the large amount of Semillon, they can have a flavor of flowers and honeysuckle.

Places to visit in Graves

1. Graafs Museum

The Graafs Museum is housed in De Hampoort, a landmark gateway from 1688. This museum illustrates the story of Grave by displaying archaeological finds, photos, drawings and engravings along with architectural models. The following history of the town of Grave includes the villages Gassel, Escharen and Velp.

2. Bagijnenkerk

One of the oldest buildings in the fortified town of Grave is the Bagijnenkerk. Throughout various wars and terrible events, this building has been heavily damaged. The church, hidden between the urban extensions in the center of Grave, is a 15th-century brick building. This late Gothic structure has a nave and 3-sided choir closure. Character is the polygonal masonry stair tower located on the north side.

3. Mariëndaal

The Mariëndaal house was built in Velp in the 1860s and was used as a novitiate until the 1960s. The architect was father A. Slootmaekers SJ. He was also an educator, missionary and overseer of pastoral care in the area.

Check out the full list of Wineries in Graves to discover authentic wine experiences.

What to pair with Graves Wines?

1. Magret de canard

Magret de canard is a French dish that dates back to the 1950s. This is the period when the chief André Daguin first prepared a duck-like steak and served it medium-rare. So, the main ingredient in this dish is a slice of duck meat, which is usually served thinly sliced and still slightly pink on the inside.

The important factor while making this dish is to use a specific duck breed, which is mallard duck. This breed is raised for foie gras, so its breast meat is thicker and more flavorful than that of other duck breeds. The additional ingredients for the meat are soy sauce, honey, star anise, vinegar, black pepper, and salt. Overall, this dish is perfect with the Frech wines.

2. Jingisukan

Jingisukan is a Japanese origin dish, that is made from grilled mutton or lamb. The dish is always prepared tableside on the convex-shaped grills. Mostly, the guests are served with sliced meat, and they can grill the meat themselves, along with various vegetables such as onions, cabbage, leeks, or peppers.

It is believed that Jingisukan was named after Genghis Khan — the founder of the Mongol Empire. Outside of Japan, the dish can also be found in Taiwan, China, and Thailand. Despite its Asian roots, the dish goes very well with Graves wine.

3. Foie gras poêlé

Foie gras poêlé is a French dish that is typically enjoyed on special and festive occasions. It is prepared with a thick slice of foie gras that is shortly seared, preferably on duck fat, and is then merely seasoned with salt and pepper. This dish is great to pair with dessert or dry white wines.

Frequently Asked Questions about Graves