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About St. Emilion
France is a nation of wine drinkers and great wines – arguably the best in the world.

    Each region of the country promotes its own wines. Bordeaux is perhaps the most celebrated French wine region, and within its broader geographic area is picturesque Saint Emilion, a magnificent medieval town, around which renowned merlot wines are made.
   Saint Emilion is a classic ancient stone-walled and cobble-stoned 13th century village, set in a region boasting more than 1000 châteaus. It is steeped in history --- it was in Castillon-La-Bataille that the Hundred Years War came to an end in 1453.    The region’s vine was first introduced by the Romans and it is for this thriving industry that the area remains famous. In addition to its reputation for wine, though, Saint Emilion is one of the most important architectural heritages in Europe, recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage.
    The fine wine-growing areas are located near the confluence of the Dordogne and Isle rivers. The vineyards cover a superb natural landscape of hills and plateaus.
Soil composition is complex here, though largely clay-limestone in the Saint Emilion appellations -- ideal for the merlot grape. The soil encourages vines to dig deep for nourishment and also makes for excellent ripening.
    Merlot accounts for an average of 70% of vines planted in the Saint Emilion region. The remaining 30% of vines being cabernet savignon or franc. Saint Emilion and Pomerol (home of the famous Pétrus) appellations are the international heartland of merlot wine.