Grape Varieties
Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Sauvignon
Most Famous Site
Côtes de Castillon
Vineyard Area
2.800 ha
Harvest
Mid-September – early October
TERROIR PROFILE · Bordeaux
Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux Clay-limestone slopes in Saint-Émilion's shadow
The same limestone slopes as Saint-Émilion at a quarter of the price: Castillon and Francs are Bordeaux's best-kept Merlot secret.
SOILS
Limestoneprecise, mineral
Limestone delivers tension, structure and a cooler, more mineral character.
Loambody-rich, velvety
Loamy soils give wines volume and a soft, velvety mouthfeel.
Marlbalanced, structured
Marl is a mix of limestone and clay — yields structured, balanced wines with acidity backbone.
CLIMATE · Maritime
Mild maritime like Saint-Émilion but a little further from the Atlantic — slightly more continental, cooler nights on the plateaus.
TOPOGRAPHY · moderate
South-facing limestone slopes and plateaus above the Dordogne between Castillon-la-Bataille and Francs — geologically the continuation of the Saint-Émilion côtes.
WHAT IT MEANS IN THE GLASS
Typical Flavours of the Region
Sauvignon Blanc
WhiteCabernet Sauvignon
RedMerlot
RedCabernet Franc
RedRegion aroma cloud
Bordeaux overview
This sub-region is part of Bordeaux. The map shows all 23 sub-regions — Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux is highlighted.
Overview
Typical Varieties
Terroir & Climate
Wine Character
Castillon and Francs continue Saint-Émilion's limestone slopes eastwards — geologically identical, a different world in price. Since the 2000s Saint-Émilion names have invested here (Stephan von Neipperg, the Thienpont family), and the best estates deliver Merlot blends with limestone freshness that outshine many a Grand Cru Classé.
Top profiles
3 detailed profiles — all filterable in the list belowAll Wineries
19 resultsChâteau d'Aiguilhe
Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux · Saint-Philippe-d'Aiguille
Southold
Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux · Francs
Château Puygueraud
Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux · Saint-Cibard
Château Beynat
Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux · Saint-Magne-de-Castillon
Château Claud-Bellevue
Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux · Belvès-de-Castillon
Château de la Craffe
Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux · Francs
Château de Prade
Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux · Belvès-de-Castillon
Château des Rochers
Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux · Belvès-de-Castillon
Château la Pierrière
Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux · Gardegan-et-Tourtirac
Château La Roche Beaulieu
Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux · Les Salles-de-Castillon
Château Laulan
Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux · Francs
Château Le Puy
Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux · Saint-Cibard
Château Lescaneaut
Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux · Saint-Magne-de-Castillon
Château Nardoux
Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux · Tayac
Château Robin
Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux · Belvès-de-Castillon
Château Tour Haut Balette
Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux · Belvès-de-Castillon
Clos Puy Arnaud
Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux · Belvès-de-Castillon
Le Chai au Quai
Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux · Castillon-la-Bataille
Events in Bordeaux
All events in Bordeaux →12 Dec – Sun, 13 December 2026
Bordeaux Tasting
Tasting · Bordeaux
19 Feb – Mon, 22 February 2027
Salon des Vins des Vignerons Indépendants Strasbourg
Wine fair · Straßburg
19 Apr – Thu, 22 April 2027
Semaine des Primeurs Bordeaux
Trade event · Bordeaux
1 May – Sun, 2 May 2027
Portes Ouvertes en Saint-Émilion
Open cellar · Saint-Émilion
Thu, 24 June 2027
Fête de la Fleur
Wine dinner · Bordeaux
Sat, 11 September 2027
Marathon du Médoc
Wine walk · Pauillac
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Castillon differ from Saint-Émilion?
Geologically almost nothing — the same clay-limestone slopes. The difference is appellation, fame and price.
Which grape varieties define Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux?
The key grape varieties in Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux are Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. The best-known vineyard is Côtes de Castillon.
When is the best time to visit Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux for wine?
The harvest in Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux takes place Mid-September – early October – when vineyards and cellars are busiest. May to July suits tastings without harvest bustle; many estates open their tasting rooms off-season by appointment.
How many wineries are there in Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux?
Cellarmap lists 19 wineries in Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux across roughly 2,800 hectares of vines. Every profile shows location, contact, grape varieties and, where available, vineyards, classification and visitor information.
Which is the most famous vineyard in Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux?
Côtes de Castillon is regarded as the most famous vineyard of Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux. The vineyard overview on this page shows which estates farm it.
📖 Look up in glossary
All terms →Related wine terms — clearly explained in the Cellarmap glossary.