Graves AOC is an appellation for still wines of all three colours covering the 43 communes listed below on the left bank of the Bordeaux region. They lie along a 31 mile (50km) stretch on the west (left) bank of the Garonne river.

Vineyard area & wine production: 2002 48,063 hl of white from around 1,140ha and 122,667hl of red from around 2,568ha (Guide Hachette des Vins 2004, p.326).

Communes (43): Arbanats. | Ayguemorte-les-Graves. | Beautiran. | Bègles. | La Brède. | Budos. | Cabanac-et-Villagrains. | Cadaujac. | Canéjan. | Castres-Gironde. | Cérons. | Cestas. | Eysines. | Gradignan. | Guillos. | Le Haillan. | Illats. | Isle-St-Georges. | Landiras. | Langon. | Léogeats. | Léognan. | Martignas-sur-Jalle. | Martillac. | Mazères. | Mérignac. | Pessac. | Podensac. | Portets. | Pujols-sur-Ciron. | Roaillan. | Saint-Jean-d’Illac. | Saint-Médard-d’Eyrans. | Saint-Michel-de-Rieufret. | Saint-Morillon. | Saint-Pardon-de-Conques. | Saint-Pierre-de-Mons. | Saint-Selve. | Saucats. | Talence. | Toulenne. | Villenave-d’Ornon. | Virelade.

Terroir: The region takes its name from the terraces formed over time by the Garonne river and more ancient watercourses and the debris they left in the form of gravels (‘graviers’) and pudding stones (‘galets’) originating in the Massif Centrale and the Pyrénées (Guide Hachette des Vins 2004, p.326). Hugh Johnson (Wine Companion: 1991, p.75) describes ‘the typical Graves landscape being patched with woods and gently tilted vineyards.’

Wineries

Certified Biodynamic: Domaine Clos Philippot. 

Certified organic: Château Bichon-Cassignols. | Chateau Lusseau. I Château Méric & Chante l’Oiseau. 

Other: Château Arricaud (Landiras). Château Cabanes–see Château Toumilon. | Château Cazebonne. | Château du Seuil. | Château des Clos-Renon–see Château Millet. | Château Millet. | Château Piron. | Château Toumilon. Domaine de Gaillat.