Libournais Wine Region

Located in the Bordeaux region on the western coast of France, Libournais is a famous wine region with beautiful vineyards. This area encompasses much of what is referred to as the Right Bank and includes the sub-regions of Saint-Émilion and Pomerol. For wine lovers, Libournais wine region is one of the favourite tourist destinations.

Find out more about Wine Tastings and Tours in Libournais!

History of Libournais wine region

Libournais (Leybornia) got its name after Roger de Leyburn, English seneschal of Gascony, who established it as a bastide in 1270. It suffered considerably in the struggles of the English and France for the property of Gironde in the 14th century. Finally, it was joined to France in the 15th century.

The Libournais wine region is part of the northeast Bordeaux wine region, at the banks of the Dordogne and Isle rivers. It is a small administrative and industrial center, and the town of Libournais is the center of a wine-producing district.

Exceptional Terroir of Libournais France

The soils of Libournais are full of limestone and clay. On the plateaus and hillsides, you will also find siliceous, sandy, and clay slopes. This unique terroir was part of the reason why several appellations part of Libournais gained a great reputation worldwide. These appellations include Saint-Émilion, Pomerol, and Lalande-de-Pomerol.

In Libournais wine region, Fronsac’s full-bodied, robust wines are produced from Merlot that is grown in clay-limestone soils. Sandy soils and soft sandstones that are rich in iron oxide help wines to develop silky smooth tannins.

What Grape Varieties Make Up a Libournais wine?

The Libournais wine appellation, or “Right Bank” as it’s informally called, produces wines with Merlot as the primary grape variety. However, other grape varieties like Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon are also used for the blends.

Wines from the Libournais are famous for their bold style, but because of the proportions of Merlot, they tend to be slightly smoother, with more subtle tannin.

Generally, wines of Libournais have high quality, reasonable prices, and the ability to age well. These are typically blends of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon. They are lush, round, and smooth, lower in tannins, with black fruit aromas.

What to Pair With Libournais Wine

Steak au Poivre

Steak au Poivre is a French dish consisting of a beefsteak that is served with seasoning, potatoes, and a salad on the side.

According to Francis Marie, a famous steak specialist, the dish was introduced in the 19th century in Normandy's bistros. Various chefs claimed the invention of the dish, the most famous of them being Émile Lerch, who said that he first made the dish in 1930.

Regardless of the author, Steak au Poivre remains a popular dish of French cuisine. It is recommended to taste the dish with a glass of Libournais wine.

Lamprey à la Bordelaise

Lamprey is a popular delicacy from the Bordeaux region, France. It can be found between December and May in the Dordogne and the Gironde estuary. The dish consists of lamprey cooked with ham, red wine, various fresh herbs, and vegetables such as onions, and garlic.

The preparation process needs to be smooth and careful because after cutting the lamprey's tail, the cook should collect the blood. Nowadays, the dish is so popular that there is even an annual lamprey festival held in Libournais in April. It is suggested to taste the dish with Libournais red wine.

Salade Rachel

Salade Rachel is a famous French salad made with truffles, celery, artichokes, boiled potatoes, asparagus, and mayonnaise. Before using, the celery is balanced in salted water, while truffles are thinly sliced. After some time, they are mixed with other ingredients.

Before serving, mayonnaise is added to the salad for a touch of creaminess. Finally, the dish is fresh and tasty with the accompaniment of white wine.

Top 3 Must-see Places in Libournais wine region

1.Visit Saint-Émilion

You need 10 minutes from Libournais to visit the UNESCO world heritage town of Saint-Émilion. Its name is famous across the world because of its unique nature and wines. Although it has a small producing area, it's very diverse because of the mix of limestone, clay, and sandy soils.

The beauty and history of the place will amaze you. Some monuments were cut straight from the rock, like the wonderful monolithic church. It’s the second-largest construction of its kind in the world and was constituted in the 11th century to store the relics of Saint-Émilion, the Breton hermit who was the first to settle here in the 8th century.

2.Musée des Beaux-Arts

For a small provincial town, Libournais has a large supply of Baroque paintings. That’s down to the many contributions by wealthy protectors and deposits by the state. Élie, who was a one-time Minister of Police in the 1810s provided the museum with its first collection of works.

Before long it had built up a large collection of Italian Baroque paintings by artists like Jacob Jordanian and Bartolomeo Manfredi. The 19th and 20th-century collections are also first-rate, with works by Foujita, Raoul Dufy, Rodin, and Libournais René Princeteau. So, if you are an art lover, you should visit this unique museum.

3.Place Abel Surchamp

Like most medieval towns, Libournais has a grid system and is centered on the main square. Place Abel Surchamp is home to the town hall, built in the 1500s and renovated at the start of the 20th century.

Place Abel Surchamp continues a connection in daily life, as there’s an open-air market here on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

It also has the trademark bastide arcades on all four sides, which now boast cafes and restaurants with tables that spill onto the square. Once you visit the city, you can't ignore this beautiful place.

Explore the best Wineries in Libournais!

Frequently Asked Questions about Libournais Wine Region