France isn’t the only country producing amazing Bordeaux wines. Legends of the Bordeaux region have long had an eye on the future of wine – and that has meant finding not just new terroir, but some very old terroir as well…
In this episode of Le Grand Voyage, Joe Fattorini looks into the spread of Bordeaux-style wines around the world – from Opus One in California’s Napa Valley to Vignobles Malartic’s own Bodega DiamAndes in the cavernous valleys of Argentina. Classic Bordeaux grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon truly thrive in these environments, and some of the world’s most beloved newcomers are based on Bordeaux blends.
In fact, Malbec, which all but disappeared from Bordeaux wines after catastrophic frosts (more on that in a previous episode has been a success in South American countries like Argentina and Chile. Bordeaux might be a signature French wine region, but the wine itself is truly international.
But while American and South American winemaking is widely known and celebrated, some famous Bordeaux names are exploring further afield, like northeastern China, and even a country whose history dates back further than the Bordeaux wine classification…
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What is Le Grand Voyage?
Beginning in August 2020, Le Grand Voyage will take you on a Bordeaux wine tour unlike any other. You’ll discover the reason cork is the preferred wine bottle closure, why wine tasting needs the right glassware, and how the region’s most famous grapes found their place. You will also hear the stories (and controversies) of French wine classification, and even a few tales of war and conflict that have helped shape and define Bordeaux and other French wine appellations over the last few centuries.
But it’s not just about wine: Le Grand Voyage is about stories. Joe’s love of Bordeaux wine (and French wine appellations in general) is as much about the history of the region as it is about the wines themselves. You’ll find out why Bordeaux is the wine of American presidents; why Irish and English names grace famous French wine labels; and why a sailing ship graces ours.
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We are Château Malartic-Lagravière, a Cru Classé de Graves of the Pessac-Léognan appellation in Bordeaux, France.
Our vineyards sit on the finest gravelly soils of Léognan, south of Bordeaux city. Much of our plot is dedicated to the red wine grapes made famous by the Bordeaux appellation, but our terroir also holds the key to one of the region’s best-kept secrets: first-class Bordeaux white wines.
Château Malartic-Lagravière’s history dates back to the 18th century. We were one of only six wine producers in Bordeaux to enter the 1953 Graves classification for both red wine and white wine. These same varieties are still grown in our vineyards today: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.
The Bonnie family now takes care of the vines and wines using traditional techniques and
modern sustainable agriculture practices to produce wines of incomparable character,
complexity and sophistication.
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