APPELLATION
Although Pessac-Léognan is the youngest appellation in Bordeaux (1987), it is paradoxically the cradle of winegrowing in the Gironde department. From the time they were first planted to the present day, i.e. for some 21 centuries, the vineyards of Pessac-Léognan have contributed to the prestige and development of Bordeaux wine.
The first diocesan records, dating back to 1382, mention wine production here, including the estate belonging to Bertrand de Goth (elected Pope under the name of Clément V in 1305), which was later given to the archbishops of Bordeaux. Since then, many well-known people have lived or stayed in the region. The Black Prince owned a hunting lodge in Léognan, while Montesquieu, not only a famous philosopher and author of “The Spirit of Laws”, but also a winegrower, was undoubtedly inspired by the wines of the Graves – which also guaranteed him financial independence.
The very notion of “cru” and production of the first great Bordeaux wines can be traced back to Château Haut-Brion in the late 17th century. This prestigious estate is now at the forefront of the Graves Great Growths, all of which are located in the Pessac-Léognan appellation.
These estates, members of the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux, bear witness to an outstanding history.