Saint-Emilion (France)

Saint-Emilion is a Gironde River cruise port and town in Aquitaine-Limousin-Poitou-Charentes (south-western France) with population around 2,000. Saint-Emilion is approx 35 km (22 ml) northeast of Bordeaux, between Castillon-la-Bataille and Libourne.

The town is an UNESCO Site, featuring splendid Romanesque churches and ruins that stretch all along its steep and narrow streets. The Romans planted vineyards in this region as early as 2nd century AD. The town was named after a travelling confessor (monk Emilion) who in the 8th century settled in hermitage carved into a rock. In the following years monks gathered and started commercial wine production.

Saint-Emilion is among Bordeaux region's principal red wine areas - together with Graves, Pomerol and Medoc. The region is smaller than Medoc and adjoins Pomerol. In Pomerol and other appellations (on Gironde River's right bank), the primary grape varieties are Cabernet Franc and Merlot, with relatively small amounts Cabernet Sauvignon also used by some chateaux.

Saint-Emilion wines were not included in 1855 Bordeaux classification, but later (in 1955) and it is regularly revised.