Saint-Emilion

Saint-Emilion is an Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) for red wine produced in the Bordeaux region of France. The AOC is located in the Saint-Emilion area and the wines are made from a blend of grape varieties, with Merlot being the dominant variety, and also including Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines are known for their rich, full-bodied and complex character, with good ageing potential. The area under cultivation is around 5000 hectares, and it is one of the most famous AOC in the Bordeaux region.

Saint-Emilion AOC wines are considered to be some of the best expressions of Bordeaux. They are typically characterized by a deep ruby colour and aromas of dark fruit and spice, with a firm tannin structure and good acidity that makes them perfect for ageing. The AOC is divided in two categories: “Saint-Emilion” and “Saint-Emilion Grand Cru”, where the latter are considered to be the highest quality wines and are subject to additional quality control. The AOC also has a classification system that is reviewed and updated every decade, to reflect the quality of the wines, where the chateaux are ranked in different levels.