The Entre-deux-Mers region is one of the great controlled apellations of Bordeaux. It is located in the southern area of the wine region, right between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers, which join to form the Gironde at the upper end of Bordeaux. This particular location has also given the region its name. Originally, a large part of the area, which covers more than 20,000 hectares, was planted with white vines, but in the second half of the 20th century these increasingly gave way to the classic Bordeaux grape varieties; Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. However, the red wines are sold under the Bordeaux AOP and are not allowed to carry the actual name of the region on the label. These reds can be quite subtle, but are intended for rather early consumption and do not have the ageing potential of the reds from the famous sub-regions. Today, about 2,500 hectares are still planted with white vines, primarily Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, but there are also vineyards with Muscadelle and Ugni Blanc. Today, the white wines are mostly quite fresh and often crisp and fruity; they are entitled to bear the name of their origin - Entre-deux-Mers. The vines are located in the large region partly on sandy and loamy soils and partly also on clay and gravelly subsoil. In the southwest of the region, there are some small areas that are allowed to bear their own name of origin, such as Graves de Vayres, Haut Bénage or Sainte Foy.
