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Article By: AntonioBonito
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Bordeaux - Wine Capital of the World
Bordeaux is a city in South-West France, capital of the Aquitaine region and the department of Gironde. It's crossed by the River Garonne, and it's the place where you'll meet the Bordelais!
For those interested in history, you might be interested to learn that from the 12th century and the following three hundred years, the city of Bordeaux actually belonged to the English, following a royal marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine, formerly wife of the King of France. From then on, due to trade across the channel, Bordeaux was to become ever more prosperous. Another peak in prosperity came in the seventeenth century with the expansion of the port and the opening up of international trade routes.
From a climate perspective - the weather - Bordeaux can be considered to be a cross between the north and the south of France. The culture follows very much along similar lines, being very elegant, perpendicular, classical in style, all originating from the previous English occupancy. The city also has a confident, professional air, clearly identifying with its position in international trade, particularly with the Dutch. There are also many fine examples of chateaux built out of a characteristic local white stone... a joy to behold!
But the heart of Bordeaux also beats to a Latin rhythm, undoubtedly due to its closeness to Spain. This is the other character of the city, one much more frivolous and given over to the fiesta!
Bordeaux's climate is of the Oceanic type, showing little marked difference between summer and winter. Winters are very mild and summers are hot. But you will also encounter rain throughout most of the year. Recently the city underwent a period of extreme dryness during the years 2002-2005.
The left bank of the river Garonne, where the majority of the town is located, comprises wide, often marshy, plains; and although there are a few hills, the typical altitude is low. However these hills are ideal for viticulture. And in this, Bordeaux is a meeting place between the Medoc and Grave wines.
On the right bank of the River Garonne, the situation is quite different, since the earth is made up almost exclusively from chalk. It's here on the right bank that many of the most famous wines in the world have their origin. Here you will find vineyards bearing the almost mythical names such as Fronsac, Pomerol and Saint Emilion. Such wines are justifiably famous around the world, and they possess price tags to prove it!
Without a shadow of doubt, Bordeaux is the world wine capital. In this region, a single wine grower, or viticulteur, will produce several different wines, with several of these being amongst the most renowned in the world. These are identified specifically as "Vins de Bordeaux". Indeed around the Bordeaux region itself there are no fewer than 14000 local wine producers, some quite small. But collectively, these vineyards account for about 700 million bottles annually. Bordeaux wines are both white and red, with the famous red giving its name to the color known as Bordeaux, after the distinctive color of the wine.
And what about the cuisine of Bordeaux? In fact Bordeaux cuisine, indeed the cuisine throughout the whole of the Gironde, is considered to be one of the finest in France, a veritable way of life. Here the visitor will have his senses delighted by names of dishes such as "palombe" (wood pigeon, in English), "cepes de Bordeaux" (a variety of mushroom), "sauce aux echalotes" (a special shallot sauce), etc. Evidently, this will need to be accompanied by the classic Bordeaux wines.
And what to say about the famous little "canele"? A cake, speciality of Bordeaux, made of soft and tender pastry, perfumed with rum and vanilla, then covered with a thick caramel crust. The Bordeaux canele was given birth to by a convent in the 16th century, with the nuns gathering flour in boat stocks to make these little cakes for the poor. They are also delicious with a white wine. However they do have a tendency to soften the next day (that is if you haven't eaten them already). However it's just necessary to put them back in the oven for a few minutes, and they'll be crusty once again!
Another unforgettable encounter in Bordeaux is with the "lamproie" (lamprey, in English), a very unusual fish. This fish possesses neither scales, nor jaws, nor bony backbone. You could compare it with a large eel. And don't forget "la sauce d'escargots" (snail sauce), known jokingly as the "Bordeaux truffle", which includes chocolate, grape and alcohol. Not to mention the famous Tome d'Aquitaine, a goat's cheese refined with a Sauterne wine, and the delicious "foie gras".
So on that culinary note, I wish you a happy stay in the heart of Aquitaine and the famous city of Bordeaux, doubtless accompanied by all the savours and delights of this festive region in the company of your new friends, the Bordelais!
Article Source: ArticleZones.com
About the Author
For further information on France, the French lifestyle and Besancon in French, please visit Rencontres Besancon at Antonio Bonito's QuePourToi.com rencontres chaudes web site.
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