Montravel is an appellation covering red and white wines from an area in the west of the Bergerac wine region, in southwestern France. In the valley of the Dordogne river, the vineyards cover a substantial acreage across the region's low, rolling hills. The permitted grape varieties betray the region's location on the very outskirts of Bordeaux: red wines are predominantly Merlot, while the dry white wines are largely composed of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.
The Montravel appellation is centered on the village of Lamothe-Montravel, just 10 miles (16km) east of Saint-Emilion. Boundaries are clearly delimited by geography, with the Dordogne river flowing along the southern extremities of Montravel and the Landais forest covering the land to the north and east. Only the western border of the Montravel appellation is an administrative one, that being the departmental border between Dordogne and Gironde.
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Terroir in the area is not dissimilar to that of the right bank of Bordeaux, although there are some climatic and geological differences. The soil here is alluvial, deposited over time by the Dordogne river, and is marked by its high content of limestone. It generally takes the form of clay or silt in the vineyards, storing water during the rainy springs to hydrate vines throughout the summer.
The vineyards of Montravel have a maritime climate with less seasonal variation than more inland areas. The mild spring and autumn seasons extend the growing season by encouraging an earlier budbreak and a later leaf fall. The high content of water in the soil has a thermal effect as well, bringing a cooling influence to the vines during the warm, dry summers. Ripening is slowed as a result, allowing the grapes to develop acidity alongside rich flavor complexity.
This is particularly important for Montravel's white wines, which make up the majority of wines made under the AOC. Montravel Blanc must be made up of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Sauvignon Gris and Muscadelle, making a vibrant, minerally white wine. Montravel Rouge is predominantly Merlot, with smaller amounts of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon and is a dense, soft red wine with some aging capabilities.
The Montravel appellation has been in place since 2001, and has different winemaking and viticultural stipulations to the much larger Bergerac AOC. The land is home to two sub-appellations, both for sweet white wines: Cotes de Montravel and Haut-Montravel.
