The term Medoc is applied to that part of the wine region of Bordeaux lying on the left bank of the Garonne and Gironde extending from near Bordeaux almost to the sea. It is a narrow strip of varying width and somewhat irregular outline, on which is grown the most renowned red wines of that country.

The region of the Sauternais, on the contrary, is situated above Bordeaux on the river Garonne, and mostly upon the left bank of that river. It is continuous with the region in which the celebrated Graves wines are made.