Saint Estephe: Chateau Bel Air

Situated in the beautiful South-West of France, Bordeaux is one of the country's largest wine-growing areas, covering over 125,000 hectares. With the Atlantic to the west, its coastal temperatures are moderated by the Gulf Stream, making it an ideal place for vines to thrive. The region produces a staggering 900 million bottles a year, ranging from large quantities of common Vin de Pays to some of the most prestigious and expensive wines in the world.

One of the prestigious commune appellations of the Haut-Médoc, on the left bank of the Gironde in Bordeaux, and the northernmost of the Médoc's famous four. Granted AOC status in 1936 and covering over 1,200 hectares, it produces red wine exclusively, built chiefly on Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with some Cabernet Franc, grown on gravel over a higher proportion of clay than its neighbours. This gives Saint-Estèphe its signature style: deeply coloured, powerful, and firmly structured wines with solid tannins and excellent ageing potential.