1956 Bordeaux Wine Vintage Summary with harvest information, vintage characteristics, buying tips and links. If you are seeking more in-depth information on anything and everything related to the Bordeaux wine region please see the: All About Bordeaux Wine Guide
1956 Bordeaux wine will always be marked by the devastating frost that destroyed a large portion of the Bordeaux wine vineyards in both banks. The frost was so severe, enormous portions of entire vineyards needed to be replanted as the vines died. On the bright side, vines that were not perfectly suited to certain areas were ripped out and replaced with more appropriate grape varieties for the terroir. Vine densities were increased at this time as well. Many vineyards planted to producing white Bordeaux wine were also replanted to the production of red Bordeaux as well. All three of those events led to much higher quality vines and of course wines that continues today. But the loss in the size of the crop for the next several years to numerous Bordeaux chateaux, decades in many cases, caused tremendous, financial, hardships for several growers. 1956 Bordeaux holds the record as the coldest year in history since 1709! The Bordeaux harvest officially started October 14 under cold, freezing conditions.
Due to the extreme frost, very little Bordeaux wine was produced. It’s difficult to find bottles of 1956 Bordeaux wine today. On the musical front, 1956 was a better year. Elvis Presley became an international superstar with several number one records to his credit. To read about other Bordeaux vintages from 1945 to today: Bordeaux Year to Year Detailed Vintage Reports & Guide 1945 to Today
