Wine cultivation in Bordeaux dates to the first century AD when this erstwhile Celtic settlement was conquered by the Romans, who brought viticulture to the area. However, in many ways, the story of Bordeaux and its wines is the story of a dialog with the English aristocracy. By the 13th century, exports of wine to England had become an important source of wealth for the area. The world's most widely cultivated and familiar varietals trace their heritage to Bordeaux: Cabernet Sauvingnon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, to name a few. Bordeaux's wines are famously demarcated as "left bank" (meaning, West of the river Garrone, which bisects this maritime region), or "right bank." Left bank chateaus tend to favor a higher percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in their blends, while the Right Bank emphasizes Merlot.
