Bordeaux · Sub-regions
Pessac-Léognan
The historic cradle of Bordeaux — Haut-Brion stood here in the 16th century, the only non-Médoc estate in the 1855 classification. Unique: world-class red AND white. The reds smoky-mineral (warm gravel), the Sauvignon/Sémillon whites rank among the greatest dry whites on earth.
Grape Varieties
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon
Most Famous Site
Château Haut-Brion
Vineyard Area
1.600 ha
TERROIR PROFILE · Bordeaux
Pessac-Léognan Urban warm-gravel zone, red & white
Pessac-Léognan: smoky reds and world-class whites — Bordeaux's historic origin.
SOILS
Gravel / Sandlight, approachable
Gravel and sand drain heavily — vines struggle for water, wines turn fine, light and elegant.
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.
CLIMATE · Maritime
Bordeaux city's heat island plus early-warming gravel mounds — first to harvest; whites benefit from cool forest edges.
TOPOGRAPHY · gentle
High gravel mounds south of the city, partly woven into the suburbs.
WHAT IT MEANS IN THE GLASS
Typical Flavours of the Region
Sauvignon Blanc
WhiteCabernet Sauvignon
RedMerlot
RedSémillon
WhiteRegion aroma cloud
Bordeaux overview
This sub-region is part of Bordeaux. The map shows all 23 sub-regions — Pessac-Léognan is highlighted.
Overview
Typical Varieties
Terroir & Climate
Soil Type
Warm gravel mounds within Bordeaux's urban area — the city heat island makes this the earliest harvest
Climate
Top sites & producers
5 sitesThe most important classified single vineyards in the region. Classification per VDP (German Prädikat Wine Estates Association) and traditional vineyard registers.
By place (5)
Pessac-Léognan5 entries
Sources: VDP, state vineyard registers, Wikipedia vineyard articles, traditional vineyard literature.
Top profiles
20 detailed profiles — all filterable in the list below
Château Haut-Brion
Pessac-Léognan · Pessac
Merlot ~44%, Cabernet Sauvignon ~46%, Cabernet Franc ~10% — plus weltberühmter Weißwein
Château La Mission Haut-Brion
Pessac-Léognan · Pessac
Merlot ~46%, Cabernet Sauvignon ~44%
Château Smith Haut Lafitte
Pessac-Léognan · Martillac
Rot: Cabernet Sauvignon ~55%, Merlot ~35%; Weiß: Sauvignon Blanc ~90%
Château Pape Clément
Pessac-Léognan · Pessac
Merlot ~50%, Cabernet Sauvignon ~45%
Château La Tour Haut-Brion
Pessac-Léognan · Pessac
Château Laville Haut-Brion
Pessac-Léognan · Pessac
All Wineries
37 resultsChâteau Haut-Brion
Pessac-Léognan · Pessac
Merlot ~44%, Cabernet Sauvignon ~46%, Cabernet Franc ~10% — plus weltberühmter Weißwein
Château La Mission Haut-Brion
Pessac-Léognan · Pessac
Merlot ~46%, Cabernet Sauvignon ~44%
Château Smith Haut Lafitte
Pessac-Léognan · Martillac
Rot: Cabernet Sauvignon ~55%, Merlot ~35%; Weiß: Sauvignon Blanc ~90%
Château Pape Clément
Pessac-Léognan · Pessac
Merlot ~50%, Cabernet Sauvignon ~45%
Château La Tour Haut-Brion
Pessac-Léognan · Pessac
Château Laville Haut-Brion
Pessac-Léognan · Pessac
Château Bouscaut
Pessac-Léognan · Léognan
Château Carbonnieux
Pessac-Léognan · Villenave-d'Ornon
Château Couhins-Lurton
Pessac-Léognan · Léognan
Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
Château de Fieuzal
Pessac-Léognan · Léognan
Château Haut-Bailly
Pessac-Léognan · Léognan
Château Malartic-Lagravière
Pessac-Léognan · Léognan
Château Olivier
Pessac-Léognan · Léognan
Domaine de Chevalier
Pessac-Léognan · Léognan
Château Couhins
Pessac-Léognan · Léognan
Merlot, Petit Verdot
Château La Louvière
Pessac-Léognan · Léognan
Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
Château les Carmes Haut-Brion
Pessac-Léognan · Mérignac
Château de Léognan
Pessac-Léognan · Léognan
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
Which grape varieties define Pessac-Léognan?
The key grape varieties in Pessac-Léognan are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. The best-known vineyard is Château Haut-Brion.
What does the terroir of Pessac-Léognan taste like?
Soils: Warm gravel mounds within Bordeaux's urban area — the city heat island makes this the earliest harvest. Together they shape structure, acidity and aromatics – see the terroir profile above.
How many wineries are there in Pessac-Léognan?
Cellarmap lists 37 wineries in Pessac-Léognan across roughly 1,600 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 Pessac-Léognan?
Château Haut-Brion is regarded as the most famous vineyard of Pessac-Léognan. 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.