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 The Médoc is one of the most famous of the Bordeaux wine-growing regions, consisting of the region in the département of Gironde, on the left bank of the Gironde estuary, north of Bordeaux. The region owes its fames to its production of red wine, home to around 1,500 vineyards including many of the finest in the world.
The Médoc's geography is not ideal, with its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean resulting in a comparatively mild climate and high rainfall making rot a constant problem. It is generally believed that the region's greatness derives from the soil; although the terrain is flat, the excellent drainage is a necessity and the increased amount of gravel in the soil allows heat to be retained, encouraging ripening, and extensive root systems.
With the exception of Château Haut Brion from Graves, all of the red wines in the famous 1855 Classification are from the Médoc (see below).
 Almost all of the region's wine consists mainly of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape, with Merlot forming the majority of the remainder. In addition Cabernet Franc is usually used in small quantities, with Petit Verdot and Malbec occasionally added.
The Médoc is subdivided into six smaller appellations, roughly corresponding to the villages of the region. From north to south they are:
- Margaux
- Moulis
- Listrac
- St-Julien
- Pauillac
- St Estèphe
Should you like to visit the Médoc, your tour starts just north of the city, in Blanquefort. The Médoc wine road, route D2 located between the Gironde estuary and the Landes forest, provides magnificent views of vine-covered gravelly rises as far as the eye can see.
Médoc vineyards are orderly, large and well-kept almost to the point of fanaticism, and the region's world-famous châteaux produce legendary wines. Here you have the chance to visit the famous Chateau Margaux, Palmer, Latour, Lafite, Mouton, Cos, Montrose, Pichon Lalande and Pichon Baron.
 Poor soil makes for great wealth!
You will find a mix of gravel, pebbles and sand underneath your feet. Vines sometimes need to sink their roots more than 50 feet deep to find water. This is the "promised land" for Cabernet Sauvignon, the quintessential Médoc variety that contributes tannin. and aging potential; Cabernet Franc and Merlot add a fruity, spicy aroma and a softness to the wine.
There are plenty of opportunities to taste recent vintages of Médoc between Margaux and Saint-Estèphe in cool, dark cellars called chais. You will also be struck by the genius of associating great wines with the image of an imposing château long before the concept of marketing ever existed! The neat rows of oak barrels house wine that develops exceptionally smooth tannin and aromatic complexity ? but only great wines require extensive aging.
After a stop at the Maison du Vin in Pauillac, our pilgrimage continues to the Pointe de Grave along a wine road studded with crus. bourgeois and cooperative cellars.
 The Official Classification of 1855
For the 1855 Exposition Universelle de Paris, Emperor Napoleon III requested a classification system for France's best Bordeaux wines which were to be on display for visitors from around the world. Brokers from the wine industry ranked the wines according to a château's reputation and trading price, which at that time was directly related to quality. The result was the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855.
The wines were ranked in importance from first to fifth growths (crus). All of the red wines that made it on the list came from the Médoc region except for the Château Haut Brion from Graves. The white wines, then of much less importance than red wine, were limited to the sweet varieties of Sauternes and Barsac and were ranked only from first great growth to second growth.
Within each category, the various vineyards are ranked in order of quality and only once since the 1855 classification has there been a change, when in 1973, Château Mouton Rothschild was elevated from a second growth to a first growth vineyard. Interestingly, since it is a classification of chateaux, the actual vineyards owned by some wineries have expanded and shrunk without any reclassification. Determining an up-to-date classification is favorite parlor game, especially among French wine geeks.
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