France / Bordeaux

Graves

Appellation

Named for its gravelly soil, Graves is the only Bordeaux subregion known for all three of the region's wine styles: dry reds, dry whites, and sweet wines, and is considered the historic birthplace of claret. Its reds lean on Cabernet Sauvignon while its whites blend Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.

Grapes grown here

Cabernet Sauvignon Principal Sauvignon Blanc Principal Sémillon Principal Cabernet Franc Blending Malbec Blending Merlot Blending Petit Verdot Blending

Sub-regions

Pessac-Léognan

Carved out of northern Graves in 1987, Pessac-Léognan sits on intensely gravelly soils just south of the city of Bordeaux and is unusual for excelling at both age-worthy reds and dry whites in the same appellation. It is home to Château Haut-Brion, the only non-Médoc estate ranked as a First Growth in 1855.