Premières Côtes de Bordeaux charts a new course towards 2028

A proposed new set of specifications submitted to the INAO could broaden the historic appellation to include dry white and red wines alongside its traditional sweet whites.

The Premières Côtes de Bordeaux AOC is preparing for a significant new chapter. Officially recognised in 1937, the appellation has submitted revised specifications to the INAO with the aim of broadening its range. If the regulatory process is completed as planned, wines from the 2028 vintage could be marketed under the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux name in three styles: sweet white, dry white and red.

The move would represent a major evolution for an appellation now focused on sweet white wines. Yet it also reconnects Premières Côtes de Bordeaux with its own history. Red wines were produced under the appellation until 2008, while dry whites are also part of the area’s longstanding winegrowing tradition. For the growers behind the project, the proposed changes are therefore as much about recovering the diversity of the terroir as they are about adapting the AOC for the future.

Scientific mapping supports a broader vision of the terroir

A detailed pedoclimatic study carried out by Bordeaux Sciences Agro in May 2023 has become one of the foundations of the project. According to figures released by the appellation, more than 70% of the production area offers conditions rated from favourable to extremely favourable for red wine production, particularly on well-drained hillside soils combining gravel, clay and limestone.

Dry white wines are another central element of the proposed evolution. The appellation points to work undertaken from the 1970s onwards by the late Professor Denis Dubourdieu at Château Reynon, demonstrating the capacity of limestone and clay-limestone soils to produce fine, fresh dry whites. More recent research by Professor Philippe Darriet of Bordeaux’s Institut des Sciences de la Vigne et du Vin has also highlighted the distinctive potential of Sémillon on these terroirs. The project also reflects the growing need for vineyards to adapt to climate change. By making better use of differences in soils, exposures and ripening cycles, growers hope to preserve freshness while giving estates greater flexibility in their choice of grape varieties. This is particularly significant in a region where, according to the ODG, around 90% of the estates are family-run.

A question of economic value and visibility

The proposed changes are not solely agronomic. They are also intended to strengthen the identity and market visibility of Premières Côtes de Bordeaux. Bringing sweet whites, dry whites and reds together under a single appellation name could give consumers and trade professionals a clearer understanding of the territory while broadening its commercial reach.

Export development is another priority. The ODG is targeting several European markets, notably Switzerland, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom, through professional events ranging from thematic masterclasses to food-and-wine pairing dinners.

The initiative also carries a wider economic and heritage dimension. The communiqué states that more than 7,000 hectares are potentially eligible for the appellation, although the area currently claimed under the AOC is considerably smaller. Strengthening the value of these vineyards is seen as a way of supporting family estates and preserving viticultural landscapes, particularly in the northern part of the appellation where urban pressure from the Bordeaux metropolitan area is more pronounced. By revisiting its specifications, Premières Côtes de Bordeaux is seeking to combine historical continuity with scientific knowledge, climate adaptation and a renewed commercial strategy. If the project receives the necessary approval, the 2028 vintage could mark the beginning of a new era for the appellation, restoring a broader expression of a terroir whose identity has historically extended well beyond sweet white wines.