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Bordeaux · Sub-regions

Médoc & Haut-Médoc

The peninsula between Gironde and Atlantic — 'in the middle of the water' (medio aquae). Haut-Médoc contains the famous communes and beyond them superb value: Crus Bourgeois like Sociando-Mallet or Chasse-Spleen outperform many a classified estate.

94Wineries
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Grape Varieties

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot

Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot

Vineyard Area

10.500 ha

WarmthSunDrynessMineralityBodyFreshness

TERROIR PROFILE · Bordeaux

Médoc & Haut-Médoc Classic left-bank terroir

Médoc & Haut-Médoc: the left bank's grand stage — and its best supporting roles.

☀ Maritime⛰ Slope: gentleCabernet SauvignonMerlotCabernet FrancPetit Verdot
What is terroir? →

SOILS

Gravel / Sandlight, approachable

Gravel and sand drain heavily — vines struggle for water, wines turn fine, light and elegant.

Sandaromatic, approachable

Loose sand and wind-blown sand warm up quickly and hold little water — they give aromatic, early-drinking wines with soft tannins; phylloxera-resistant.

Loambody-rich, velvety

Loamy soils give wines volume and a soft, velvety mouthfeel.

CLIMATE · Maritime

Oceanic climate between the Gironde and the Atlantic, mild and humid, shielded in the west from wind and sea air by the Landes pine forests. The Gironde moderates frost and heat; ripening is mid to late, and rain at harvest remains the main risk.

TOPOGRAPHY · gentle

Flat peninsula of low gravel mounds (croupes) along the Gironde, passing westwards into sandy ground and pine forest. The best vineyards lie near the river on the gravel mounds with good drainage.

WHAT IT MEANS IN THE GLASS

blackcurrantclassic Bordeaux blendmedium-firm tanninstrong value field (Cru Bourgeois)

Typical Flavours of the Region

Cabernet Sauvignon

Red
BlackcurrantBlackberryCedarwoodGraphite

Merlot

Red
PlumBlack cherryChocolateTruffle

Cabernet Franc

Red
RaspberryRedcurrantBell pepperViolet

Petit Verdot

Red
VioletBlackberryBlack pepperLavender

Region aroma cloud

BlackcurrantBlackberryCedarwoodGraphiteBell pepperLeatherTobaccoPlumBlack cherryChocolateTruffleCedarVioletRaspberryRedcurrantPencil shavingsBlack pepperLavender
→ Aroma wheel and variety profiles

Bordeaux overview

This sub-region is part of Bordeaux. The map shows all 23 sub-regions — Médoc & Haut-Médoc is highlighted.

Overview

Wineries94
Detailed profiles36

Typical Varieties

Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Cabernet Franc
Petit Verdot

Terroir & Climate

Wine Character

The Médoc is the long peninsula north of Bordeaux between the Gironde to the east and the Atlantic to the west; the name goes back to the ancient pagus Medullicus. The vineyards lie mostly in a narrow strip along the Gironde. The southern part is called Haut-Médoc and includes the communal appellations Margaux, Saint-Julien, Pauillac and Saint-Estèphe as well as Listrac-Médoc and Moulis; the northern part is designated simply Médoc.

Characteristic are low gravel ridges (croupes) deposited by the Gironde, which drain well; towards the west they give way to sand, where the pine forests of the Landes begin. Further north clay and limestone increasingly prevail. The climate is oceanic; the Gironde tempers temperatures and the coastal forest shields the vines from the Atlantic wind.

Cabernet Sauvignon dominates on the gravel soils, Merlot often stands on more clayey sites, with Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot added. The wines are tannic and age-worthy. The 1855 classification ranks many estates, and the Crus Bourgeois such as Sociando-Mallet and Chasse-Spleen form an important quality tier.

Soil Type

Gravel ridges (croupes) along the Gironde, giving way to sand and pine forest towards the west

Climate

Maritime; the Atlantic and the Gironde temper temperatures, the pine forest to the west shelters from the wind, and rainfall is ample.

Top sites & producers

4 sites

The most important classified single vineyards in the region. Classification per VDP (German Prädikat Wine Estates Association) and traditional vineyard registers.

By place (4)

Médoc & Haut-Médoc4 entries
Château CantemerleChâteau Chasse-SpleenChâteau La LaguneChâteau Sociando-Mallet

Sources: VDP, state vineyard registers, Wikipedia vineyard articles, traditional vineyard literature.

Top profiles

36 detailed profiles — all filterable in the list below

Château La Lagune

Médoc & Haut-Médoc · Ludon-Médoc

GlobalRegional
1855 Troisième Grand Cru ClasséSpitzenweingut

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot

Château La Tour Carnet

Médoc & Haut-Médoc · Saint-Laurent-Médoc

GlobalRegional
1855 Quatrième Grand Cru ClasséSpitzenweingut

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc

C

Château Cantemerle

Médoc & Haut-Médoc · Macau

GlobalRegional
1855 Cinquième Grand Cru ClasséSpitzenweingut

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot

B

Château Belgrave

Médoc & Haut-Médoc · Saint-Laurent-Médoc

GlobalRegional
1855 Cinquième Grand Cru ClasséSpitzenweingut

Château Camensac

Médoc & Haut-Médoc · Saint-Laurent-Médoc

GlobalRegional
1855 Cinquième Grand Cru ClasséSpitzenweingut

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot

Château Barreyres

Médoc & Haut-Médoc · Arcins

Regional

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot

All Wineries

94 results

Château La Lagune

Médoc & Haut-Médoc · Ludon-Médoc

GlobalRegional
1855 Troisième Grand Cru ClasséSpitzenweingut

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot

Château La Tour Carnet

Médoc & Haut-Médoc · Saint-Laurent-Médoc

GlobalRegional
1855 Quatrième Grand Cru ClasséSpitzenweingut

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc

C

Château Cantemerle

Médoc & Haut-Médoc · Macau

GlobalRegional
1855 Cinquième Grand Cru ClasséSpitzenweingut

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot

B

Château Belgrave

Médoc & Haut-Médoc · Saint-Laurent-Médoc

GlobalRegional
1855 Cinquième Grand Cru ClasséSpitzenweingut

Château Camensac

Médoc & Haut-Médoc · Saint-Laurent-Médoc

GlobalRegional
1855 Cinquième Grand Cru ClasséSpitzenweingut

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot

Château Barreyres

Médoc & Haut-Médoc · Arcins

Regional

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot

Cave Coopérative La Paroisse

Médoc & Haut-Médoc · Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne

Regional

Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon

Château d'Arcins

Médoc & Haut-Médoc · Arcins

Regional

Merlot, Cabernet Franc

Château Sigognac

Médoc & Haut-Médoc · Saint-Yzans-de-Médoc

Regional

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot

Domain Imbert

Médoc & Haut-Médoc

Regional

Cave Saint-Roch

Médoc & Haut-Médoc · Queyrac

Regional

Château Arnauld

Médoc & Haut-Médoc · Arcins

Regional

Château La Gorce

Médoc & Haut-Médoc · Lesparre-Médoc

Regional

Château Tour Haut Caussan

Médoc & Haut-Médoc · Lesparre-Médoc

Regional

Les Vignerons d'Uni-Médoc

Médoc & Haut-Médoc · Gaillan-en-Médoc

Regional

Vignobles des Quatre Vents

Médoc & Haut-Médoc · Lesparre-Médoc

Regional

Château Castera

Médoc & Haut-Médoc · Saint-Germain-d'Esteuil

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot

Château de la Croix

Médoc & Haut-Médoc · Ordonnac

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc

Events in Bordeaux

All events in Bordeaux →

12 Dec – Sun, 13 December 2026

Bordeaux Tasting

Tasting · Bordeaux

Terre de Vinsfrom €35

19 Feb – Mon, 22 February 2027

Salon des Vins des Vignerons Indépendants Strasbourg

Wine fair · Straßburg

Vignerons Indépendants de Francefrom €8

12 Mar – Sun, 14 March 2027

Salon des Vins des Vignerons Indépendants Bordeaux

Wine fair · Bordeaux

Vignerons Indépendants de France

19 Apr – Thu, 22 April 2027

Semaine des Primeurs Bordeaux

Trade event · Bordeaux

Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux

1 May – Sun, 2 May 2027

Portes Ouvertes en Saint-Émilion

Open cellar · Saint-Émilion

Conseil des Vins de Saint-ÉmilionFree

Thu, 24 June 2027

Fête de la Fleur

Wine dinner · Bordeaux

Commanderie du Bontemps de Médoc, Graves, Sauternes et Barsac

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the name Médoc come from and what is the 1855 classification?

The name goes back to the ancient pagus Medullicus; the Médoc is the long peninsula between the Gironde and the Atlantic. The 1855 classification ranks many estates, while the Crus Bourgeois such as Sociando-Mallet and Chasse-Spleen form an important quality tier.

Which soils shape the Médoc?

Characteristic are low gravel ridges (croupes) deposited by the Gironde, which drain well. To the west they give way to sand; in the north clay and limestone increasingly prevail.

What is the difference between Médoc and Haut-Médoc?

The southern part is called Haut-Médoc and includes the communal appellations Margaux, Saint-Julien, Pauillac and Saint-Estèphe as well as Listrac-Médoc and Moulis. The northern part is called Médoc.

Which grape varieties define Médoc & Haut-Médoc?

The key grape varieties in Médoc & Haut-Médoc are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

How many wineries are there in Médoc & Haut-Médoc?

Cellarmap lists 94 wineries in Médoc & Haut-Médoc across roughly 10,500 hectares of vines. Every profile shows location, contact, grape varieties and, where available, vineyards, classification and visitor information.

All wineries in Médoc & Haut-Médoc, A to Z

📖 Look up in glossary

All terms →

Related wine terms — clearly explained in the Cellarmap glossary.

Cabernet SauvignonKlimaLageTanninWeinberg