<p>The <strong>M&eacute;doc</strong>, Bordeaux&rsquo;s largest and best-known wine region, is located on the triangular piece of land between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gironde River estuary in western France. This Left Bank parcel stretches some 50 miles north to south, with varying soils planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc vines. The area comprises two regions: M&eacute;doc to the north and Haut-M&eacute;doc (the &ldquo;upper Medoc&rdquo;) further south.</p> <p>The <strong>Haut-M&eacute;doc</strong> encompasses the famed communes of Saint-Est&egrave;phe, Pauillac, Saint-Julien and Margaux, but also includes vineyards surrounding these appellations. The wines from these surrounding vineyards are labelled Haut-M&eacute;doc AOC. They share many of the traditions and qualities of their prestigious neighbours, but are generally produced in a lighter style with fragran

<p>Hautes-C&ocirc;tes de Nuits covers the area on top of the escarpment, and the adjacent area of various valleys and slopes. There is only one appellation, Bourgogne Hautes-C&ocirc;tes de Nuits, which covers the entire subregion. There are also no Grand Cru or Premier Cru vineyards.</p>

<p><strong>Sauternes</strong> is home to arguably the most prestigious and long-lived sweet wines in the world. Located 65 km south of the city of Bordeaux at the southern tip of the Graves, the appellation has 2100 ha of vineyards planted on flat, alluvial gravels overlying thick layers of limestone. Although viewed as one appellation, Sauternes actually consists of five communes; Barsac, Bommes, Fargues, Preignanc, and Sauternes with Barsac also a designated appellation in its own right. What makes Sauternes unique is its special mesoclimate caused by the confluence of the Ciron and the Garonne rivers.</p>