Margaux-Cantenac (Medoc, France)

Margaux-Cantenac is a Gironde River cruise port and town in France's Nouvelle-Aquitaine region (Bordeaux Prefecture's Gironde department) with population around 3,000. Margaux-Cantenac is approx 20 km (12 mi) to the north of Bordeaux, and approx 35 km (22 mi) to the south of Lesparre-Medoc (district's capital).

Margaux-Cantenac is one of the gateways to the Medoc wine region's vineyards, along with Blaye (Cussac-Fort-Medoc) and Le Verdon-sur-Mer.

On cruise shore excursions from Margaux-Cantenac (located in the town's vicinity) can be visited several large wine estates from the 18th-19th-centuries, including Chateau Margaux (262 hectares), Chateau d'Issan (120 hectares, has a large castle), Chateau Prieure-Cantenac (78 hectares), Chateau Brane-Cantenac (75 hectares), Chateau Palmer (66 hectares), Chateau Cantenac Brown (61 hectares), Chateau Desmirail (40 hectares), Chateau Kirwan (37 hectares), Chateau Rauzan-Gassies (30 hectares), Chateau Boyd-Cantenac (18 hectares), Chateau Pouget-Cantenac (10 hectares). All these estates have large manor houses and beautiful gardens.

As cruise port, Margaux-Cantenac was introduced by Viking River Cruises (owner of the world's largest river cruise fleet) and included in the 2023 schedule of Viking Forseti (2013-built longship).

Next table shows Viking's 7-night/8-day "Chateaux, Rivers and Wine" itinerary. The voyage starts and ends with an overnight stay on the riverboat in Bordeaux.

Medoc (translated as "middle land") is named as the peninsula is between the Atlantic Ocean and Gironde Estuary. Its position allows huge streams of water to act as thermal regulators creating the perfect microclimate for the vineyards. The first Medoc vineyard was created in the 16th century, while most vineyards were established by the mid-18th century. As early as 1730, topping up of casks (to compensate for headspace/ullage) and racking were introduced to keep the wines longer.

The name of the region comes from the local Celtic tribe Medullicus, or "country of the Medulli". The region owes its success mainly to red wine production. Medoc is home to about 1500 vineyards. The area also features long sandy beaches and pine forests.

The geography of Medoc is not perfect for wine growing, with the proximity to the Atlantic Ocean which results in high rainfall and comparatively mild climate making rot a permanent problem. It is generally thought that the nature of Medoc's wine derives from the soil. Even though the terrain is flat, exceptional drainage is a necessity: the increased amount of gravel in the region's soil allows heat to be retained, thus encouraging ripening, as well as extensive root systems.