Situated on the mid-Atlantic coast of France around the Gironde river, Bordeaux is home to some of the most legendary wines on earth. There are (for all intents and purposes) five grape varieties permitted under French wine law for red Bordeaux: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and, very infrequently, Petit Verdot and Malbec. For white Bordeaux, only three varieties are permitted: Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillion, and Muscadelle. The exact percentages of each grape variety used in any given wine will change, according to the winemaker’s discretion, from vintage to vintage. The temperamental climate of Bordeaux necessitates such flexibility - what may be an excellent vintage for Cabernet Sauvignon can wreak havoc on Merlot grapes (and vice versa).