History of Bordeaux wine American domination of the reviewing of wine, especially Bordeaux. The result was a broader appeal of Bordeaux wine where the presence of "fruit" became a much more important factor than previously. This critical selection of grapes also resulted in many chateaux introducing second wines, so not to waste good but not optimum quality grapes. It was also the introduction of the "en primeur" concept where traders alongside critics are invited to Bordeaux six months after harvest, to sample the new wine. Bordeaux used to have a significant production of white wines, with Entre-deux-Mers, a primarily white wine area. Unlike the
Bordeaux wine regions Pays de l'Atlantique was introduced in 2006, as a complement to the existing range of Bordeaux appellations, and covers grape varieties not permitted in classic Bordeaux, notably Chardonnay for white wines and Syrah for red wines. Nearly 4 million litres of wine is produced under this appellation, 62% of it red. The wine regions of the Left bank of the Gironde estuary are bordered by large coniferous forest land that have a tempering effect on the maritime climate of the area. The region spans the left bank of the Gironde from the mouth of the river to the city of