Pessac Leognan Bordeaux

Located within the Graves area of Bordeaux on the left bank of the Garonne River, Pessac-Léognan wineries produce both white and red wines. Red wine grapes grown here are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petite Verdot; the region’s white wine grapes are Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. The soil of the region is gravel-y and much of the land is forested.

Pessac-Léognan’s most famous winery is Château Haut-Brion, the sole First Growth winery in the Pessac-Léognan region. Only three wines are released by Château Haut-Brion each year: its grand vin (a red wine), Les Plantiers du Haut-Brion, and Château Haut-Brion Blanc. Despite the centuries of history, their appellation launched in 1987.

Quick Facts

• Château Haut-Brion produces between 10,000 and 12,000 cases of wine each year
• A third of the châteaux listed in the Pessac-Léognan region were included in the classification of Graves during the 1950s
• Wines from here were referred to as claret between 1152 and 1453