West side of the Garonne

SAUTERNES

Small by its surface yet great by the renown of its white wines, the vineyard of Sauternes and Barsac is a "country" composed of the valley of Ciron, near its confluence with the Garonne . Its terroir is limited to only five towns (Sauternes - Barsac-Preignac - Bommes and Fargues). On its hillsides, grow rows of generally perpendicular stocks to Ciron's bed and separated in "clos" . The wine is elaborated from grapes stemming from 3 grapevines : muscadelle, sauvignon and sémillon.
Three naming:
*Sauternes : 1810ha – 43025hl
* Barsac : 405ha – 9800hl
* Cérons : 51ha – 1860hl

GRAVES

This territory, cradle of the vine growing of Bordeaux, adopts the name of the ground which bears it, a mix of gravels and pebbles rolled by waters.
Three naming including the most prestigious of which are Pessac-Léognan
THE AOC(PROTECTED DESIGNATION OF ORIGIN) Grave, in red and in dry white: 3500ha - 158965hl (75 % in red)
THE AOC(PROTECTED DESIGNATION OF ORIGIN) Grave supérieur, blanc moelleux: 400ha 15035hl
Pessac Léognan: naming of 1987: red and white: 1615ha-65145hl

Sauternes : Typical wine related sight-seeing:
Château Filhot (17th C.)
Château Yquem : the most prestigious wine of Sauternes
Château de Malle (17th C.) : Entrance (wonderful ironworks and a unique collection of figures en trompe l'œil dating from the 17th C.)

Barsac :
Church of the 16th C. and Louis XV furnitures.

Budos :
Ruins of the feodal Castle (14th C.)

Podensac :
House of Graves wines : wine tasting and a collection of 300
References of wines sold at the château price.

LOUPIAC – ST CROIX DU MONT
East side of the Garonne

St Macaire : fortified village on a headland above the Garonne
Square of Mercadiou
Church ST SAUVEUR with a hall dating from the 13th C.
Gothic and Renaissance Houses
Cradle of the pear William
Côtes de Bordeaux (white wine) St Macaire: to discover

Verdelais : Toulouse Lautrec's grave
Notre-Dame Basilica reconstructed in the 17th C.
Calvary with a magnificent view on the pond of the Garonne and the Sauternais

St André des Bois :
Château Malromé : builtin the 14th C. last living place of Toulouse Lautrec

Sauveterre de Guyenne :
Basilica built in 1281
benedictine Abbaye

Ste Croix du Mont :
Viewpoint indicator (located at the terrace of the church) with a view of Pyrenees.
Caves dug in fossil oyster beds of the tertiary era.

Loupiac : famous for its white syrupi wines,
gallo roman Village. therms from the IInd au Vth C. with their original mosaics .guided tour in compagny with the wine producer who also participates to the archeological searches.

Cadillac : ancient countryhouse dating from 1280
Castle of the d'Eperon Dukes ( 1598-1620 )

Rions : Medieval village , entrance through the Lhyan door ( 14e C.)
a must see little jewel