Entre-deux-Mers is a large wine-growing sub-region of the Bordeaux region in southwestern France. Its name literally translates as "between two seas", although the seas in question are actually rivers - the Garonne and the Dordogne, which form the southern and northern boundaries of the region respectively. The Entre-deux-Mers is home to a variety of appellations, producing wines in styles ranging from the Sweet botrytised whites of Cadillac, Loupiac and Sainte-Croix-du-Mont - all close to the northeast bank of the Garonne - to the Dry table wines of Sainte-Foy and Graves de Vayres, closer to the Dordogne. The region stretching along the Garonne from the group of sweet white wine appellations to the area east of the city of Bordeaux is the red wine appellation Côtes de Bordeaux - until 2009 called Premières Côtes de Bordeaux, a title now reserved for sweet whites.
The appellations in this region can certainly be difficult to learn; Entre-Deux-Mers Haut-Benauge is for both sweet and dry whites, while in the same area Bordeaux Haut-Benauge can only be used for dry wines. The Entre-deux-Mers regional appellation title itself applies only to dry white wines made from Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Muscadelle and Ugni Blanc. However, the majority of wines produced within the boundaries of the Entre-Deux-Mers AOC are instead labeled as Generic Bordeaux or superior Bordeaux. Entre-deux-Mers occupies a significant portion of the Bordeaux region, stretching from the city in the west to the farmland of Bergerac in the east.
Pinot noir is an important red grape variety in Burgundy and Champagne, and its reputation is well known! Great wines such as the Domaine de la Romanée Conti elaborate their wines from this famous grape variety, and make it a great variety. When properly vinified, pinot noit produces red wines of great finesse, with a wide range of aromas depending on its advancement (fruit, undergrowth, leather). it is also the only red grape variety authorized in Alsace. Pinot Noir is not easily cultivated beyond our borders, although it has enjoyed some success in Oregon, the United States, Australia and New Zealand.
sweet wines from the region of Entre-deux-Mers go well with generally quite well with dishes of rich fish (salmon, tuna etc), shellfish or sweet desserts such as recipes of sun burger, scallops on a bed of leeks or real chocolate cake.
On the nose in the region of Entre-deux-Mers often reveals types of flavors of honey, pear or citrus fruit and sometimes also flavors of orange peel, floral or dried fruit.
When I first visited Bordeaux, the sleepy landscape of turreted stone châteaux and vineyards seemed timeless, with traditions so well established you felt they would go on forever. But new energy in this famous wine region is visible and audible: bees buzz and sheep graze in organic vineyards; brand-new cellars brim with sustainable features and wine fermenting in trendy amphorae; unusual grapes are gaining attention; and the number of women in key roles keeps growing. Yoga among the vines is s ...
France’s 2022 wine harvest is likely to be between 42.6 million and 45.6m hectolitres, up by 13% to 21% on the frost-hit 2021 vintage and more in-line with the country’s five-year average. One hectolitre is equivalent to 100 litres. Yet drought could impact on yields in the coming weeks, adding extra uncertainty in several regions, said the French agriculture ministry’s Agreste statistics unit. Expected vintage quality isn’t covered by the preliminary outlook. It added the 2022 growing season is ...
At the 2021 Decanter World Wine Awards, the world’s largest wine competition saw its biggest year to date, with 18,094 wines tasted from 56 countries. Over 15 consecutive days in June 2021, almost 170 expert wine judges, including 44 Masters of Wine and 11 Master Sommeliers, awarded 50 Best in Show, 179 Platinum, 635 Gold, 5,607 Silver and 8,332 Bronze medals. Join Decanter at our Fine Wine Encounter NYC this June, where you will have the opportunity to sample 23 of these top awarded Gold, Plati ...
