Bordeaux - Wine Capital of the World

Bordeaux is a city in South-West France, capital of the Aquitaine region and the department of Gironde. It's crossed by the River Garonne, and it's the place where you'll meet the Bordelais!

For those interested in history, you might be interested to learn that from the 12th century and the following three hundred years, the city of Bordeaux actually belonged to the English, following a royal marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine, formerly wife of the King of France. From then on, due to trade across the channel, Bordeaux was to become ever more prosperous. Another peak in prosperity came in the seventeenth century with the expansion of the port and the opening up of international trade routes.

Because of its climate, Bordeaux is often considered to be a bit of a turning point, being both in the north and the south at one and the same time. And from her former English domination, the town has cultivated a certain composure, or class, and an air of cool professionalism with its regular trading with Hanse and Holland. From the period of Louis XIV the town has maintained a certain upright, aligned, classical style of architecture, which you encounter in the innumerable castles made of white stone.

But Bordeaux also lives to a Latin rhythm, due to its proximity to Spain... and here it shows its opposite character, one of being a glutton for festivities.

The climate of Bordeaux is considered to be Oceanic, that is to say with no great difference between summer and winter temperatures. Here the summers are hot and the winters relatively mild, even warm. However the region does get its fair share of rain spread throughout the year, due to it being on the Atlantic coast. However, extreme periods of dryness can also be a problem from time to time. In Bordeaux, only one thing is certain, and that's the wine!

The left bank of the river Garonne, where the majority of the town is located, comprises wide, often marshy, plains; and although there are a few hills, the typical altitude is low. However these hills are ideal for viticulture. And in this, Bordeaux is a meeting place between the Medoc and Grave wines.

The other side of the Garonne, the right bank, is entirely different, and it is made up almost entirely of chalk. And it's here that most of the world famous vineyards are located vineyards such as Pomerol, Fronsac and Saint Emilion famous around the world, not least for their expense.

Undoubtedly Bordeaux can be considered to be the world capital of fine wine. And it is here that a wine grower might be responsible for the production of not just one, but maybe several, world renowned wines. Such wines go under the title of "Vins de Bordeaux" or simply "Bordeaux". Interestingly, in the Bordeaux wine growing region, there are in the region of around 14000 wine producers, some very large, many very small. However altogether, these wine growers, or "viticulteurs", as they are known in France, produce about 700 million bottles of wine each year. The wines of Bordeaux are white and red. Indeed the name of the color known as Bordeaux originates from the distinctive color of the famous Bordeaux red wine.

And what about the cuisine of Bordeaux? In fact Bordeaux cuisine, indeed the cuisine throughout the whole of the Gironde, is considered to be one of the finest in France, a veritable way of life. Here the visitor will have his senses delighted by names of dishes such as "palombe" (wood pigeon, in English), "cepes de Bordeaux" (a variety of mushroom), "sauce aux echalotes" (a special shallot sauce), etc. Evidently, this will need to be accompanied by the classic Bordeaux wines.

On the sweeter side of things, how about the well-known little "canele" cakes, a local speciality made from light tender pastry, a lacing of vanilla and rum, topped off with a thick tasty caramelised crust. Indeed this Bordeaux delicacy has its origins with a group of 16th century nuns who made them regularly to give to the poorest people of the town. However, these are sme of the most exotic delicacies, even more so when accompanied by a glass of famous Bordeaux white!

Other culinary delights to discover in Bordeaux are the strange lamproie fish (or lamprey), which is exceedingly unusual, possessing neither scales, backbone or jaws... in fact more like a large eel, although nevertheless quite delicious. Then of course there's "sauce d'escargots" (snail sauce), known locally as the "truffe de Bordeaux" (or Bordeaux truffle). Inteestingly enough this incorporates grapes, chocolate and alcohol. Then of course there is the famous Tome Aquitaine (a goats cheese plus Sauterne !) and last but not least the unforgettable local "foie gras", renowned throught the region.

So on that culinary note, I wish you a happy stay in the heart of Aquitaine and the famous city of Bordeaux, doubtless accompanied by all the savours and delights of this festive region in the company of your new friends, the Bordelais!

Article Source: http://www.myaddirectory.com

For further information on France, the French lifestyle and Bretagne in French, please visit Rencontres Bretagne at Antonio Bonito's QuePourToi.com rencontres libertines web site.

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