User:Murgh/Graves AOC

Graves is a French wine appellation located south of the city of Bordeaux containing some of the oldest winemaking estates in the Bordeaux wine region. The appellation in its modern form consists of 34 communes, although the viticultural activity is mainly concentrated in six: Portets, Illats, Cérons, Saint-Pierre-de-Mons, Langon and Landiras, covering an area historically referred to as Petits Graves.

Unusually among Bordeaux appellations there is reputable production of both red and white wine, although red wine has become a considerable majority of the production. With the separation of the historic estates within the Pessac-Léognan AOC in 1987, Graves was stripped of its former Grand cru association, and excluding the enclaved sweet wine appellations Sauternes, Barsac and Cérons, the remaining wineries of the district enjoy less reputation despite the presence of several historic estates.

History
Considered the first Bordeaux region during the region's economic rise, Graves enjoyed several benefits from its close proximity to the city of Bordeaux, during a time Médoc was to a large extent marshlands, Graves became the birthplace of "Claret". By the early fame of Château Haut-Brion in the 17th century, the name of Graves was synonymous with Bordeaux wine. With the Classification of Graves wine of 1953, and 1959..

Graves Supérieures
The appellation designated for the production of sweet wine (vin blanc moelleux or vin blanc d'or), 425 hectares of vineyards are declared to be dedicated to this production, annually producing an average of 16,900 hectolitres. INAO regulations stipulate a yield ratio of 40 hectolitres per hectare, a must weight of 195 grams per litre, and minimum values of 12.5 % alcohol and 18 grams per litre residual sugar.