World-famous for its red wines, the Médoc also reveals a more confidential side: a centuries-old tradition of white wines, only just revived under a new appellation.
An unexpected discovery to add to your next stop on the wine route.
A well-kept secret
Ask any enthusiast what comes to mind when they think of the Médoc, and the answer is almost always red wine. Yet this Bordeaux peninsula, cradled by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gironde estuary, has been producing white wine since the early 18th century—a history almost as old as that of its famous red grands crus. Some châteaux even preserve true treasures from this era: at Château Castéra, a white vintage from 1922 with an amber hue is carefully kept in the cellars, bearing witness to a know-how forgotten for decades.
It is this history that the winemakers of the Médoc wanted to have officially recognised. Since August 2025, a new appellation exists: Médoc blanc. A minor revolution for a region where, until now, only red was possible.
What will you find in the glass?
Médoc blanc relies on the region's traditional grape varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Sémillon and Muscadelle, blended with precise expertise: part of the wine must be aged in barrels, giving it roundness and complexity. The expected result: a wine marked by a subtle salinity, a direct legacy of the proximity of the ocean and the estuary.
A minor curiosity for inquisitive visitors: some winemakers are also quietly experimenting with new grape varieties, more resistant to heat, in anticipation of warming summers. Glass after glass in the years to come, this offers a chance to follow the evolution of a vineyard adapting to its times.
To be discovered as early as spring 2026
The first bottles of Médoc blanc will arrive on the market in the spring of 2026, with around thirty to sixty producers already committed to the adventure. For visitors passing through the region, this is the perfect opportunity to discover a still little-known wine before it becomes a benchmark.
Châteaux Fonréaud in Listrac-Médoc and Château Castéra are two properties historically committed to this production.
One thing is certain: the next time someone tells you that the Médoc is strictly about red wine, you will know what to say.