Centred on the city of Bordeaux and spanning both sides of the Gironde estuary, the Bordeaux region is home to 54 different appellations, many of them immediately familiar to the wine-lover — Saint-Émilion, Saint-Julien, Pomerol, Pauillac, amongst many others — a testament to the long and illustrious history of wine production in the area. Famed for its reds, which are typically blends of varieties such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, Bordeaux is similarly renowned for sweet dessert wines such as Sauternes and also produces dry Sauvignon Blanc.