Bordeaux Uncorked Part II: Left Bank – Gravel, Glory & the Kingdom of Cabernet

About this course

This guided wine course examines Bordeaux’s Left Bank through its gravel soils, Atlantic and Gironde influences, and dominance of Cabernet Sauvignon. Participants taste a minimum of seven wines from established appellations and lesser-known estates while considering how place shapes style. The session also covers the 1855 Classification, the First Growths, Grand Cru Classé estates and the historical Crus Bourgeois system. It concludes by looking at the Médoc’s newly recognised white wines, alongside the growing importance of sustainability, biodiversity and environmental certification.

What you'll learn

• Relate Médoc gravel soils and surrounding waterways to Cabernet Sauvignon’s growing conditions
• Distinguish the main Bordeaux classification systems discussed, including the 1855 Classification and Crus Bourgeois
• Taste and compare a range of Left Bank wines from benchmark appellations and lesser-known estates
• Identify characteristic aromas and flavours in the Médoc’s newly recognised white wines
• Describe how sustainability, biodiversity and environmental certification are influencing the region

Is this course right for you?

The course is listed as All Levels, suggesting it is intended for participants with varied levels of wine knowledge. It combines guided discussion with tasting across several Left Bank styles, including red Cabernet-led wines and newly recognised Médoc whites.

Before you go

• Dietary requirements can be accommodated when notified at least 48 hours in advance.