The Dordogne is one of France’s oldest and noblest wine growing areas. The most famous of the Bergerac wines are made using Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sémillon and Muscadelle grape varieties. There are several world-renowned vineyards in the Dordogne where wine has been produced since Roman times.
Bergerac Wines: Vineyards were planted in Bergerac by the Romans, who called the grape variety Bituriges Vivisques, after the tribe that cultivated them. These were the forerunners of today’s Cabernet Sauvignon. In Bergerac today, vineyards cover some 12,400 hectares, producing a range of fine red, white and rosé wines. Export has played a key part in the growth of the region and as early as the 17th century, the wines from Bergerac followed the trade routes of Europe.
Monbazillac is the most famous of the Dordogne wines. The Romans planted the first vineyards, although it was not until the Middle Ages that wine growing became prevalent in the Dordogne Valley of Périgord. Monbazillac wines were exported to Holland in the 17th century, where they were known as Muscat wines. To be a true Monbazillac wine, three varieties of grape are used: Sémillon, Sauvignon and Muscadelle.
The Pécharmant vineyards are the oldest in Bergerac and until the French Revolution, the richest. The vineyards were devastated by phylloxera outbreaks in the1880s and it was not until 1946 that the region achieved its AOC status. Today, this small but distinct wine producing area of northern Bergerac, benefits from the southern slopes of the Dordogne river to produce some of the regions most exclusive wines. The average holding is just 8.5 hectares and there are only 43 producers.
Montravel was the name of a small fortified village in the Dordogne valley and is the region closest to the Bordeaux wine growing areas. Montravel wines were amongst the first in France to receive the AOC status, back in 1937. The area is known for its dry and its sweet quality white wines. Red Montravel are made up of a minimum of 50% merlot grapes, typically blended with Cabernet Franc or Cabernet Sauvignon.
Rosette is the smallest wine region of Bergerac, covering just 125 hectares, worked by only a handful of producers. The vines grow on the south-facing right bank of the Dordogne river, just north of the town of Bergerac. Rosette wines use only Sémillon, Sauvignon and Muscadelle grape varieties.
