The Médoc (the name means "middle land") is a triangular peninsula in the department of Gironde in south-west France. It lies to the north-west of the city of Bordeaux between the Gironde estuary formed by the confluence of the Garonne and Dordogne rivers and the Atlantic coast of the Côte d'Argent (Silver Coast) on the Bay of Biscay. The strip, which is around 70 kilometres long and 5 to 12 kilometres wide and is dominated by many vineyards, is occasionally interrupted by pastureland, scrubland and polders (floodplain).

The area is divided into two regional appellations (Bas-Médoc and Haut-Médoc) and six communal appellations within Haut-Medoc with around 16,000 hectares of vineyards. Médoc is probably the most famous appellation in Bordeaux and also one of the most important and best red wine regions in France and the world. Typical are the numerous magnificent châteaux, which also deserve this designation (as "château") from an architectural point of view. However, this is not a sign of quality, as there are also wine estates with simple buildings that produce excellent wines.
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Thorsten Rahn
Restaurantleiter, Sommelier, Weindozent und Autor; Dresden