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Blaye is an historic town located about 20 miles (32km) to the north of Bordeaux city, occupying the northern end of the Bordeaux wine region's right bank. The vineyards here are slightly higher and hillier than those just across the Gironde, and the Blaye area lends a picturesque element to the landscape of Bordeaux. Historically, it has been home to three appellations: AOC Blaye, AOC Cotes de Blaye and AOC Premieres Cotes de Blaye. They were all created in 1936, then revised in the 1990s and again in 2009, when various changes were made to the Bordeaux appellation system.
As of 2009, AOC Blaye wines are exclusively red. They are blended predominantly from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, with smaller quantities of Malbec, Petit Verdot and even Carmenere.
Although Blaye has been producing wines for far longer than its more prestigious cousins to the south and west, it fell victim long ago to the harsh facts of commercialism. The area's particular position on the Gironde Estuary leads its shores to silt up heavily, which made access difficult for trading ships. The glory of Bordeaux as a whole has risen and fallen on the health of its exports, subject to both geographical and political factors.
Please see Cotes de Bordeaux Blaye (red and white wines) and Cotes de Blaye (white wines) for more information.
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