What Happens to Vineyards in Bordeaux Over Winter?
Bordeaux has a long and proud history that spans more than 2,000 years. It’s considered the most famous wine region in the world and home to over 8,000 châteaux and 13,000 wine growers. With over sixty appellations and sixty-one grand cru Classés, it’s the largest fine wine-producing region on Earth, creating about six million hectolitres of wine annually.
Wines were first made when the Romans brought vines to the region in 43 A.D. Discover this fascinating history on one of Bordeaux Wine Pilgrim’s Bordeaux Wine Tasting Tours.
Climate and Overview of Bordeaux
The vineyards of Bordeaux grow on the 45th parallel, halfway between the Equator and the North Pole, just like the Northern Rhône Valley. Bordeaux enjoys a temperate Mediterranean climate with an average temperature of 13°C. However, weather conditions vary greatly from one growing season to the next, influencing how well grapes ripen each year.
Bordeaux wine country is divided into two main parts: the Left Bank and the Right Bank, separated by the Gironde Estuary and the Gironde and Dordogne Rivers.
Bordeaux’s Left Bank borders the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Gironde River to the east. It’s home to many of Bordeaux’s finest Châteaux, where Cabernet Sauvignon reigns supreme. The terroir’s alluvial gravel and limestone promote well-drained soils and warm summer temperatures, producing structured wines with firm tannins that age beautifully.
The Right Bank is bordered by the Dordogne River and dominated by clay soils that retain water — perfect for Merlot-based blends. These wines are soft and fruit-forward, with mellow tannins that make them approachable young, though top-tier examples improve with age.
More than 90% of Bordeaux wines are dry reds. White wines are mostly made in Entre-deux-Mers, Graves, and Pessac-Léognan, while the sweet wines of Sauternes, Barsac, and Cadillac are legendary. Bordeaux also produces limited sparkling and rosé wines.
The Secret to Making Great Wine Is a Strong Vine
Bordeaux vineyards average 10,000 vines per hectare. The soils are poor, and rainfall is limited (around 900mm annually), forcing vines to compete for water and nutrients. This “vine stress” encourages deep root growth and smaller canopies, producing concentrated grapes even in challenging seasons.
Deep roots, which can reach six metres, help vines access nutrients and protect them during cold winters, as they remain below freezing soil temperatures. This resilience ensures vine survival and consistent grape quality year after year.
The Winter Cycle in a Bordeaux Vineyard
Winter in Bordeaux begins in November and lasts until late March. It’s a crucial period for viticulturists who prepare vines for the next growing season. Though vineyards look quiet, this time is busy with maintenance, pruning, and soil care.
What Happens When Vines Go Dormant?
After harvest, usually around late September or early October, the vines begin to slow down as days shorten and temperatures drop. Dormancy allows the vines to rest and recover energy for the next season’s growth.
As the chill of autumn arrives, leaves change color and fall, signaling the end of photosynthesis. Growth halts, conserving energy, while the vine stores essential nutrients like carbohydrates in its roots and trunk to survive winter.
Even while dormant above ground, roots remain active underground, absorbing nutrients and strengthening for spring. By late winter, rising temperatures trigger the vines to awaken, preparing for budburst — a critical stage that determines grape quality.
The vine also adapts to the cold through physiological changes, such as reducing water in its cells and increasing solute concentration, which prevents freezing. When warmth returns, the new cycle begins.
The Great Freeze of 1956
Some grape varietals are more frost-resistant than others, but extreme weather can still devastate vineyards. The most catastrophic event occurred on 21 February 1956 when a sudden cold snap brought -25°C temperatures. Sap inside the vines froze, killing them across both banks.
Malbec was hardest hit — 75% of vineyards were destroyed. Though the 1956 harvest was lost, replanting with hardier varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc reshaped Bordeaux. Before the freeze, 60% of vineyards were planted with white grapes; today, that number is just 8%.
Primary Grape Varietals in Bordeaux
Bordeaux is famous for its blended wines. Thirteen permitted grape varietals are used across its 65 appellations.
Red Varieties:
Merlot is the most planted red grape, covering 66% of vineyards. Cabernet Sauvignon follows with 22.5%, and Cabernet Franc represents about 9.5%. Secondary varietals — Petit Verdot, Carménère, and Malbec — make up the remaining 2%, adding complexity to blends.
White Varieties:
Sémillon accounts for 45% of white plantings, followed by Sauvignon Blanc (43%) and Muscadelle (5%). Smaller quantities of Merlot Blanc, Colombard, Sauvignon Gris, and Ugni Blanc make up the rest.
To adapt to climate change, Bordeaux approved new grapes in 2021, including Arinarnoa, Castets, Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Liliorila, and Alvarinho.
Winter Vineyard Tasks
Once vines are fully dormant, vineyards come alive with activity. While last season’s wines age in the cellar, teams work outside pruning, repairing, and maintaining the vineyard for spring.
Vine Pruning
Pruning is one of the most critical winter tasks, performed while vines are dormant. It’s the winemaker’s main opportunity to shape next season’s harvest. The process is manual, precise, and demanding, often done in cold, wet weather.
Each vine is pruned by hand. A skilled worker can manage around 700 vines per day with manual tools, or 1,500 using electric secateurs. Pruning typically begins in November and must finish before vines awaken in March. With 10,000 vines per hectare, larger estates start early, while smaller ones have more flexibility.
Up to 90% of old shoots are removed. Pruners carefully decide which canes to keep for the coming season — a vital decision influencing future harvests. During our Bordeaux Wine Tasting Tours, you can meet winemakers who explain this art firsthand.
Repairs in the Bordeaux Vineyard
- Teams inspect and repair trellises, stakes, and wires, and check drainage systems to prevent waterlogging during Bordeaux’s rainy winters.
- Soil management: The soil may be tilled, and cover crops planted to prevent erosion, suppress weeds, and enrich biodiversity. Vines are also checked for diseases and pests, with organic or mechanical treatments applied when needed.
- Wildlife and ecosystem care: Many estates follow organic, biodynamic, or Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) practices, promoting natural balance between wildlife and vineyard health.
- Replanting vines: At winter’s end, damaged vines are replaced. Once the soil thaws, old vines are uprooted and new ones planted, ensuring continuity for future vintages.
Ways to Protect Vines From the Cold
Though severe winter frosts are rare in Bordeaux, precautions like mounding soil around the base of vines help protect grafts from freezing. Cover crops are also used to absorb excess nitrogen and water, preventing erosion and improving biodiversity.
By covering the vine’s trunk above the graft with several centimetres of soil, growers insulate it from freezing. Even if upper parts are damaged, protected sections below the soil survive — reducing costly replanting.
Welcome Spring – Protecting Vines from Frost
During our Bordeaux Wine Tasting Tours in early April, you’ll see vineyards dotted with smudge pots. Frost protection is essential as temperatures can drop below 0°C until mid-May — the period known as the Ice Saints.
As temperatures rise in late February, sap begins to flow through the vines, forming “vine tears.” This marks the start of a new growing cycle, but also a vulnerable stage when frost can cause major damage.
To protect the developing buds, growers use several frost prevention methods:
- Hay bales: Burned to create warm smoke that shields vines from frost.
- Candles: Around 300 per hectare, burning for up to twelve hours to warm the vineyard.
- Air heaters: Fixed or portable units that circulate warm air among the vines.
- Sprinkler systems: Spray water that freezes around buds, forming protective ice shells.
- Biodynamic methods: Some growers use Valerian preparations believed to strengthen vines.
- Wind turbines and fans: Circulate air to prevent cold pockets. In rare cases, helicopters are used to push frigid air upward, protecting about ten hectares per flight.
Conclusion
Though vineyards appear quiet in winter, it’s one of the most important times of year in Bordeaux. Careful preparation, pruning, and protection ensure a healthy harvest the following year. With changing climates bringing new challenges like frost and hail, Bordeaux’s winemakers continue to adapt and innovate.
Through centuries of expertise, the region has learned to protect its vines and preserve its legendary wines. Bordeaux Wine Pilgrim looks forward to welcoming you on one of our vineyard and Bordeaux Wine Tasting Tours soon.
