French wine primarily a white-wine region in the Alps close to Switzerland, where many grapes unique to this region are cultivated. South West France or "Sud-Ouest", a somewhat heterogeneous collection of wine areas inland or south of Bordeaux. Some areas produce primarily red wines in a style reminiscent of red Bordeaux, while other produce dry or sweet white wines. Areas within "Sud-Ouest" include among other: There are also several smaller production areas situated outside these major regions. Many of those are VDQS wines, and some, particularly those in more northern locations, are remnants of production areas that were once larger. France has
Bordeaux wine confluence of the Dordogne and Garonne Rivers, which flow into the Gironde. These rivers define the main geographical subdivisions of the region: In Bordeaux the concept of "terroir" plays a pivotal role in wine production with the top estates aiming to make "terroir" driven wines that reflect the place they are from, often from grapes collected from a single vineyard. The soil of Bordeaux is composed of gravel, sandy stone, and clay. The region's best vineyards are located on the well-drained gravel soils that are frequently found near the Gironde river. An old adage in Bordeaux is the best estates