Barsac, Gironde

Barsac is a town and commune on the left bank of the Garonne river in the Gironde département in south-west France.

Geography

Barsac is located 37 km upstream the Garonne river of Bordeaux at a longitude of 00° 18' 47" West and a latitude of 44° 36' 37" North. It has an average altitude of 8 m, with a minimum of 3 m and a maximum of 21 m. The total area of Barsac is 14.48 km².

Government

The mayor of Barsac is Phillippe Meynard who is serving a term from 2001 to 2008.

Wine

The town gives its name to a wine making appellation, Barsac AOC, that produces sweet white wines.

The town and its vineyards are separated from the area of Sauternes to the south by the Ciron river, whose cooling effect is of key importance in encouraging the annual action of the Botrytis fungus on the Sémillon grapes. The area is marginally flatter than its neighbor and its wines are considered to be marginally lighter. The area is however permitted to use the Sauternes appellation.

Producers from the area include the First Growths Château Climens, and Château Coutet.

See also

• French wine
• Bordeaux wine
• Communes of the Gironde département
• Bordeaux wine regions

External links

• Official website (in French)
• Map of Barsac on Mapquest

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