Dordogne Wine and Vineyards

Particularly for tourism, the area is divided into four areas, each having certain distinctions of character: This area of the Dordogne is known as The Purple Périgord taken from the colour of the grapes that produce some of France's most famous wines - the full-bodied reds (Rouge) of Bergerac and the sweet white Monbazillacs.

The Purple Périgord is the south-western part of the départment. Much of the land is included in the great wine-growing areas around Bergerac, both north and south of the River Dordogne, with Bergerac itself, and other fine ‘bastides’ and other medieval towns.

The Green Périgord comprises the northern end of the Dordogne, richly verdant and crossed by many rivers and streams such as the Dronne, the Bandiat and the higher reaches of the Isle and the Auvézère. Principal towns include Riberac, Nontron, Thiviers and Brantôme. The area is the least visited of the four, only Brantôme being a notable visitor town.

The White Périgord lies immediately to the south of the Green, a great swathe from east to west, including the main town, Périgueux. Here the dominant landscape combines wide limestone plateaux, shallow valleys and rolling meadows, crossed by the Rivers Auvézère and Isle. Savignac Les Eglises, Sorges, St. Astier and Mussidan are among the more important settlements.

The Black Périgord includes the valleys of the two great rivers, the Dordogne itself and the Vézère, with the concentrated areas of pre-history, Lascaux and Les Eyzies, the most attractive riverside towns and villages, Montignac, Beynac, Limeuil, La Roque Gageac, Domme, and many of the châteaux and other major visitor attractions.