Bordeaux: History to medieval times

The Latin poet Ausonius (c.ad 310–393/4) is not only the first author to mention that wine was grown in his native Bordeaux, he was also the region’s first known wine-grower. In his poem ‘De herediolo’ (‘On his small inheritance’), dated 379, he tells us that he grows 100 iugera (a iugerum is approximately two-thirds of an acre or 0.25 ha) of vines. His estate was probably at Bazas, near the river Garonne (although some have suggested St-Émilion). In two of his other poems, ‘Mosella’ (‘On the Moselle’), and ‘Ordo urbium nobilium’ (‘The list of distinguished cities’), he describes the banks of the Garonne overgrown with vines. Ch ausone is named after him.