The Crossroads of Wine

Stand on the stone bridge spanning the Garonne River in Bordeaux city, and you're at the center of the wine world's most famous divide. To your left, gravelly soils nurture Cabernet Sauvignon into structured classics. To your right, clay and limestone coddle Merlot into plush pleasures. This geographic split—Left Bank versus Right Bank—shapes not just wine styles but philosophies, traditions, and even personalities.

Yet Bordeaux is more than its famous split personality. It's where wine became global business, where diverse communities have shaped viticulture for centuries, and where tradition and innovation dance an intricate pas de deux. From garage wines crafted in suburban driveways to grand châteaux that haven't changed their methods in centuries, Bordeaux offers every expression of wine ambition.