Standing With Gironde

A region we love, facing a difficult summer

This summer, Gironde faced one of the largest wildfires France has seen in decades. Around 42,000 hectares burned and more than 220,000 people were evacuated.

For those of us who know Bordeaux through its wines, it is easy to think first of the vineyards. But Gironde is so much more: it is home to families, communities, forests, restaurants, local businesses and generations of people deeply connected to this land.

Beyond the vineyards

While many of Bordeaux's vineyards were spared the worst of the fires, the wider impact on the region has been significant. Homes were destroyed, businesses were forced to close, and entire communities spent weeks away from where they live.

The fire is now under control and the vast majority of those evacuated have returned home. Remarkably, given the scale of it, no civilian lives were lost. But for many, the work of rebuilding is only beginning.

Standing together

We are thinking of everyone affected, and especially those who have lost homes or businesses, those who were forced to evacuate, and the firefighters and volunteers who worked around the clock, often in dangerous conditions, to protect the region.

Bordeaux has given the world a great deal: its wines, its landscapes, its traditions and its people. From our table to yours, we stand with Gironde.