Regional Bordeaux AOCs surface. Maximum authorized yield is 55 hectolitres per hectare. The authorized grape varieties are the same as red Bordeaux AOC although Merlot is the most common of this AOC. Production requirements and statistics for the various regional AOCs are as follows: Regional Bordeaux AOCs In the Bordeaux wine region there are seven regional "Appellations d'origine contrôlée" (AOCs) that may be used throughout the Gironde department. These are Bordeaux Rouge AOC, Bordeaux Supérieur Rouge, Bordeaux Clairet, Bordeaux Rosé, Bordeaux Blanc, a dry white, Bordeaux Supérieur Blanc, a sweet white, and "Crémant de Bordeaux", a sparkling méthode traditionnelle wine. The regional appellations
South West France (wine region) not used in Bordeaux are common, such as Tannat. Finally, in the areas closest to the Pyrenees, wines are made from local varieties, such as Gros Manseng and Petit Manseng. The south-west region was first cultivated by the Romans and had a flourishing wine trade long before the Bordeaux area was planted. As the port city of Bordeaux became established, wines from the "High Country" would descend via the tributaries of the Dordogne and Garonne to be sent to markets along the Atlantic coast. The climate of the inland region was generally warmer and more favorable than in Bordeaux, allowing