The Bordeaux region borders the Atlantic Ocean in southwest France. It's several hours away from Paris by train or auto, but only about an hour by plane.
The Atlantic isn't the only body of water around Bordeaux. The huge Gironde Estuary empties into the Atlantic Ocean close to many famous Bordeaux vineyards. The Dordogne River and the Garonne River, which flow into the Gironde Estuary, run right through the Bordeaux region, separating it into two parts, referred to as the Left Bank and the Right Bank. In between the two is a vineyard area called Entre-Deux-Mers, 'between two seas,' where the grapes for many inexpensive Bordeaux wines grow. The ocean and the rivers all influence the climate and the soil of the Bordeaux region, giving its wines the special character that they have.
The region is primarily flat, with a few undulating elevations, mostly too small to be called hills, in various sections.
