The Saint-Emilion appellation is located around the mediaeval city of the same name and extends to the town of Libourne. The vineyard, with a surface area of 5500 hectares, produces 230,000 hectolitres of red wine. The mild oceanic climate with a continental influence is protected from frost by the proximity of the Dordogne, the Barbanne and the Tailhas stream. The terroirs are very diverse in this appellation, with a limestone plateau with asteria, limestone and clay-silt slopes and a plain with sandy-gravel soil. The wines of Saint-Emilion are composed of Merlot with a more or less significant part of Cabernet Franc. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Carmenère are in the minority. The ageing period is from 4 to 10 years.