Graves: the 2015 vintage

The Graves appellation

Recognized as an Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée since 1937 by the INAO, Graves wines are made from vines planted over 60 kilometers along the left bank of the Garonne, between La Brède and Langon. In total, the appellation’s vineyards cover some 3,500 hectares, on a variety of soils. The terroirs of the Graves form a unique geological lacework of pebbles, cobbles and gravel. These poor soils, coupled with high permeability, are beneficial for water runoff, and as the vines are planted on slopes, this ensures optimum regulation of water supply. The Graves climate is temperate, with a strong influence from the Atlantic Ocean, and is largely favorable to viticulture, with mild temperatures. The Graves winegrowing boom really began between the 16th and 18th centuries, when a number of large estates decided to market their production under the name of “vins de graves”, which were then considered the Bordeaux wines par excellence. Until the end of the 18th century, Graves wines dominated the market, and were massively exported to England and Northern Europe. Faced with the wine crises affecting the Bordeaux vineyards, increasing urbanization and competition from the New World, Graves wines were to experience some difficulties. But an economic revival in the 1970s revived the momentum, and the work of passionate winemakers established the reputation of these wines once and for all. It’s also worth noting that only one Graves cru, Château Haut-Brion, features in the famous 1855 classification. But a classification dating back to 1953, drawn up by the appellation’s producers, distinguishes 16 crus classés.