Graves
Maritime
The gravelly Left Bank district south of Bordeaux city, named for its soils and known for both dry white Bordeaux and elegant reds.
Overview
About Graves
Graves runs south of the city of Bordeaux along the left bank of the Garonne, and takes its name from its gravel soils (graves). It is one of the few Bordeaux districts that makes excellent dry white — from Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon — as well as red, and its northern end, including Château Haut-Brion, was carved out in 1987 as the separate Pessac-Léognan appellation.
Haut-Brion was the only château outside the Médoc to be included in the 1855 Classification, an indication of the reputation it had by then. Graves has its own classification, made in 1953 and revised in 1959.
Graves is marked on the map.
France
Shaded: Gironde. Map units are states, provinces or départements, so a smaller place appears as the larger area that contains it.
The land
Climate & terroir
Climate
Maritime
Maritime, and a little warmer than the Médoc because the vines sit closer to the city and the Landes forest. Whites are picked earlier to preserve freshness, and reds benefit from the warm gravel.
Terroir & soils
What the vines grow in
Gravel, sand and clay, with limestone in places. The gravel stores heat, helping both Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc ripen.
Go deeper
Rules, years & producers
Graves is classified separately from the Médoc: the Crus Classés de Graves date from 1953, and the list was finalised in 1959.
Crus Classés de Graves
Sixteen châteaux, ranked for red wine, white wine or both, with no further tiers among them.
AOC Pessac-Léognan
The northern, most prestigious part of Graves, an appellation of its own since 1987. All the classified châteaux are inside it.
AOC Graves
The wider district, for red and dry white wines.
What's grown here
Grapes
Each grape's page links back here.