Bordeaux Supérieur
How to read this
Capitals mark the stressed syllable. “ew” is “ee” said with rounded lips. “eu” is “ay” said with rounded lips. The French r comes from the back of the throat. The recording is the reference.
Bordeaux held to a higher bar: the same 494 communes, with denser planting, lower yields, riper grapes and a red that may not be sold before July 1 of the year after the harvest.
The place
The rules
Red from the 6 Bordeaux varieties, with Arinarnoa, Castets, Marselan, Touriga Nacional and Vidoc admitted as varieties of interest for adaptation, to 5% of an estate and 10% of a blend. The white is sweet, from Sémillon, Sauvignon, Sauvignon Gris and Muscadelle, with Colombard, Merlot Blanc and Ugni Blanc to 30%, and Floréal, Liliorila, Sauvignac and Souvignier Gris admitted for adaptation under the same limits as the red ones. Vines planted since 2008 must stand 4,500 to the hectare. The red asks 58 hectoliters with a ceiling of 66 and 11% of natural alcohol, and is raised until June 15 and sold from July 1 of the year after the harvest; the white asks 49 with a ceiling of 60 and 12%, and is sold from January 15. Plain Bordeaux, next to it, asks 4,000 vines, 60 hectoliters and 10.5% for its red, sold after January 15, and its rulebook of May 13, 2026 lets a light red be called Claret and sweetened with grape must to no more than 3 g/l. The cahier des charges of
The names
No classification.
- Colors
- Red and sweet white
- Communes
- 494, the whole Bordeaux area
- Vineyard
- 12,191 hectares
- Grapes
- Red: the 6 Bordeaux varieties, with 5 adaptation varieties to 5%; white: Sémillon, Sauvignon, Sauvignon Gris, Muscadelle; Colombard, Merlot Blanc, Ugni Blanc to 30%; 4 adaptation varieties to 5%
- Density
- 4,500 vines a hectare for plantings since 2008
- Yield
- Red 58 hectoliters, ceiling 66; white 49, ceiling 60
- Alcohol
- Red 11%, white 12% natural at least
- Release
- Reds from July 1, whites from January 15, of the year after the harvest
- Classified
- No classification
- AOC since
- October 14, 1943; cahier of June 4, 2026
Sources: INAO and the Fédération des Grands Vins de Bordeaux, cahiers des charges · FGVB, cahier des charges Bordeaux, arrêté du 13 mai 2026 · Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux,
The stack
The same land in
It shares named communes with
The appellations of Bordeaux are stacked, not laid side by side. The map draws the whole stack. Open the map
The pyramid of names shows what each step promises: vines a hectare, bottles, ripeness, day of sale, grapes. Climb from here
Terroir
Gravel gets the attention here. The sands and clays of old rivers and lakes (molasse) hold more of the soil: both families of molasse together cover 39.6% of the delimited area, more than the ice age gravel terraces.
The molasse was laid in the late Eocene and the Oligocene, when rivers and lakes spread across the land. Twice the sea slipped in between those river layers. In the Oligocene it left the starfish limestone (calcaire à astéries); in the Miocene it left a smaller trace; and each time the rivers came back over it, so the clays and sands of the Agenais lie above the limestone like seams of sea in a wall of river and lake soil. The whole pile tilts very gently toward the southwest.
Between the Garonne and the Dordogne, the plateaus of the
- Slope wash and cover8.5%
- River and estuary deposits of today5.1%
- Ice age river terraces: sand, gravel, pebbles21.3%
- Landes sand and the oldest river deposits5.0%
- Shell sands (faluns), limestones and marls of the Miocene0.5%
- Agenais molasses: clays and sands above the limestone19.8%
- Starfish limestone and marine marls12.7%
- Lake limestones and clays3.5%
- Molasses: sands and clays of old rivers and lakes19.8%
- Older sea limestones and marls3.8%
Shares of the delimited area, measured on BRGM’s geological map, in families by the age and rock its legend prints, youngest first.
Half its delimited soil lies above 48 m, and 9 tenths lies between 5 and 101 m. 12.2% of it is steeper than 10%.
The same delimited soil as Bordeaux AOC and
Measured section
The line runs 68.4 km, from 61 m to 40 m. Inside the delimited area it lies between 3 and 103 m.
Colors: Slope wash and coverRiver and estuary deposits of todayIce age river terraces: sand, gravel, pebblesLandes sand and the oldest river depositsShell sands (faluns), limestones and marls of the MioceneStarfish limestone and marine marlsLake limestones and claysMolasses: sands and clays of old rivers and lakes
The units, as BRGM prints them
| Code | Name and age, as printed | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Slope wash and cover | 8.5% | |
| CFp | Formations superficielles | 7.0% |
| CF | Formations superficielles | 1.4% |
| and 3 more units under 1% each, 0.1% in all | ||
| River and estuary deposits of today | 5.1% | |
| Fy3-z | Alluvions subactuelles à actuelles indiféernéciées (sic), Pré-boréal à actuel | 4.4% |
| and 4 more units under 1% each, 0.7% in all | ||
| Ice age river terraces: sand, gravel, pebbles | 21.3% | |
| Fy | Terrasses sous-flandriennes indiférenciées, Weichsélien - "Wurm" | 1.7% |
| Fxb3 | Basses terrasses (RD Garonne) - Terrasse d'Izon (type 6), Saalien - "Riss" | 2.0% |
| Fxb2 | Basses terrasses (RD Garonne) - Terrasse d'Izon (type 6), Saalien - "Riss" | 1.6% |
| Fwb(D) | Moyennes terrasses - Terrasses du Malleret sup. indifférencié (type 3 à 5), Esltérien - "Mindel" | 1.3% |
| Fwb(G) | Moyennes terrasses (RG Garonne) - Terrasses de Léognan, terrasse de Martillac et terrasse de St Selve indifférenciés (type 3 à 5), Esltérien - "Mindel" | 3.4% |
| Fvb(G) | Hautes terrasses (RG Garonne) - Terrasse de Martillac (type 2) indifférenciée et terrasse d'Arsac, Ménapien à Bavélien - "Gunz" | 5.4% |
| Fva(G) | Très hautes terrasses (RG Garonne) - Terrasse de Léognan (type 1) indifférenciée et terrasse de | 2.4% |
| Fu | Très hautes terrasses (RD Garonne) - Terrasse de Cénac, Eburonien - Donau | 1.1% |
| and 4 more units under 1% each, 2.5% in all | ||
| Landes sand and the oldest river deposits | 5.0% | |
| Ft(Sa) | Fmt de Sadirac, Tiglien - "Biber-Donau" | 2.7% |
| Ft(Bn) | Formation de Belin, Tiglien - "Biber-Donau" | 1.9% |
| and 6 more units under 1% each, 0.4% in all | ||
| Shell sands (faluns), limestones and marls of the Miocene | 0.5% | |
| and 10 more units under 1% each, 0.5% in all | ||
| Agenais molasses: clays and sands above the limestone | 19.8% | |
| g2-A | Molasse de l'Agenais sup. à faciès argileux dominant, Chattien continental | 7.5% |
| g1-A | Molasse de l'Agenais inf. à facies argileux dominant, Rupélien continental | 11.9% |
| and 2 more units under 1% each, 0.4% in all | ||
| Starfish limestone and marine marls | 12.7% | |
| g1-As | Calcaire à Astéries, Rupélien marin | 12.1% |
| and 3 more units under 1% each, 0.6% in all | ||
| Lake limestones and clays | 3.5% | |
| g1-Cc | Formation du Calcaire de Castillon s.s., Rupélien basal continental | 1.5% |
| and 6 more units under 1% each, 2.0% in all | ||
| Molasses: sands and clays of old rivers and lakes | 19.8% | |
| g1-2b | Formation de Boisbreteau sup., Rupélien terminal à Chattien continental | 1.0% |
| g1a | Formation de Boisbreteau moy. et formation de la Garde, Rupélien inf. continental | 2.4% |
| e7-g1 | Molasses du Fronsadais indifférenciées, Priabonien sup. à Rupélien basal continental | 4.4% |
| e7-g1-A | Molasse du Fronsadais sup. à facies argileux dominant, Priabonien sup. à Rupélien basal continental | 1.8% |
| e7-g1-S | Molasse du Fronsadais sup. à facies sableux dominant, Priabonien sup. à Rupélien basal continental | 3.9% |
| e7c-A | Molasses du Fronsadais inf. à moy. (facies argileux dominant), Priabonien sup. continental | 1.4% |
| e6-7 | Argiles à Paléotherium, Bartonien sup. à Priabonien inf. continental | 1.1% |
| e5-6 | Formation de Guizengard sup., Lutétien sup. à Bartonien sup. continental | 1.9% |
| and 7 more units under 1% each, 1.9% in all | ||
| Older sea limestones and marls | 3.8% | |
| and 16 more units under 1% each, 3.8% in all | ||
Informative figures, computed from INAO’s digitized parcel delimitation of October 12, 2026 and BRGM’s harmonized geological map (BD Charm-50); heights from IGN’s RGE ALTI 5 m. The plans held at the town hall are the legal reference. The delimited area is always somewhat larger than what is planted.
Sources: BRGM, Notice explicative de la feuille Libourne à 1/50 000, 1995; BRGM, Notice explicative de la feuille Podensac à 1/50 000, 1996; BRGM, Notice explicative de la feuille Duras à 1/50 000, 1996; BRGM, Notice explicative de la feuille Pessac à 1/50 000, 1978; INAO parcel delimitation (file of 2026-10-12) laid over BRGM BD Charm-50 Gironde, harmonized geological map; IGN RGE ALTI 5 m relief model.
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Châteaux on this site
Also in this appellation, with no page here yet: Château Gabarey.
News from Bordeaux Supérieur
3
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UK buyers deliver their verdict on new Bordeaux clarets
UK Bordeaux Claret importers debated the new Claret classification with the Bordeaux et
Bordeaux Supérieur Wine Union at an event hosted by The Buyer. The discussion addressed how to introduce the classification to the UK market while protecting existing Bordeaux Claret business.Buyer reactions reveal whether Bordeaux’s current mix of style, positioning and price is connecting with a crucial export market.
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Bordeaux revives ‘Claret’ for new generation of drinkers
The Syndicat des AOC Bordeaux et
Bordeaux Supérieur introduced Bordeaux Claret, a regulated category effective from the 2025 vintage for light, low-tannin, unoaked red wines intended to be served chilled and attract younger consumers. -
All you need to know about the new Bordeaux Claret classification
Bordeaux has officially brought back the Claret classification, with a revamped style aimed at younger drinkers seeking lighter, fresher red wines. The first new-style Claret wines, made from the 2025 vintage, will reach the wine trade this summer, as Bordeaux et
Bordeaux Supérieur PDO volumes have fallen 50% in 5 years.