Did you know that historically the Médoc wines are not only red, but also white? The production of white wines in this symbolically “red” appellation has been known since the early 18th century, but its volume has not been constant.
The gravelly soils that emerged from the draining of the Medoc marshes by the Dutch to facilitate maritime trade in the Gironde estuary are better suited to late-ripening red varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, so the region has gradually become synonymous with tart and long-lived wines.
In 1936, the protected geographical designations (AOC) Médoc Haut-Médoc were officially registered, but only for red wines. But the well-known white wines of the Medoc were not taken into account by the specifications. However, winemakers of small appellations still continued to produce white wines under their own names, but in 1960 the INAO institute banned this, obliging winemakers to indicate “Bordeaux Blanc” on the labels. Thus, from 17,000 hectoliters in 1930, the production of white wines in the Médoc region decreased to 1,800 hectoliters by 1969. Today, thanks to the growing demand for white wines and the desire of winemakers to emphasize the potential of the Medoc terroir for growing white varieties, the production of white wines in the region (but under the same name “Bordeaux Blanc”) has increased to 9,500 hectoliters, i.e. reached 50% of its historical volume.
The development of the specifications for the Médoc Blanc appellation, designed to formalize its uniqueness, began in 2018. In 2023, it was submitted for examination and accepted by INAO on February 6, 2025. It is currently undergoing official confirmation by the state with the possibility of challenge, which will last 2 months. If the specifications are finally accepted, the 2025 harvest will already serve to produce wines with “Médoc Blanc” on the label, which will appear on the market in 2026.
What will distinguish “Médoc Blanc” from “Bordeaux Blanc”?
- Grapes for wines with the name “Médoc Blanc” can be grown throughout the Médoc, including prestigious communal appellations, unlike “Bordeaux Blanc”, for which grapes can come from any appellation in the vaster Bordeaux region.
- A minimum of 30% of the “Médoc Blanc” blend must be aged in barrels, while for “Bordeaux Blanc” barrel aging is optional.
As for the permitted varieties for “Médoc Blanc”, these are the classic white Bordeaux wines Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Sauvignon Gris and Muscadelle. In addition, the so-called VIFA (Variétés d’Intérêt à Fin d’adaptation) are permitted: Viognier, Alvarinho, Liliorila, Sauvignac, Floréal and Souvigner Gris (the last two are disease-resistant). The initially proposed Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Manseng were not accepted into the specification.
Although the first wines bearing the Médoc Blanc name will only be seen and tasted next year, their expected organoleptic profile can already be described, as 89 winemakers are producing cuvées from white grapes grown on the lands of the Médoc with favorable characteristics for them. So, white Médoc is:
- wines with a bouquet combining citrus aromas, notes of stone and tropical fruits, shades of flowers and barrel aging
- a round but elegant texture, thanks to the stearing of the yeast lees
- mineral, even salty nuances, depending on the terroir
It remains to be seen when this typicality will be emphasized by the corresponding name.
