Old Wine Map of Bordeaux by Hetreau, 1954: Bordeaux, Saint-Émilion, Pomerol, Médoc, Garonne

Les Vignobles De France -- Vins De Bordeaux, crafted by the illustrious French artist Remy Hetreau in 1954, is a masterpiece that captures the essence of Bordeaux's wine-producing regions. This exquisite map, one of a series of 11, was commissioned by the Comité National de Propagande en Faveur du Vin, a French government agency dedicated to promoting the nation's wine industry. Hetreau's work not only highlights the geographical intricacies of Bordeaux but also serves as a vibrant promotional tool for both wine and tourism. The map is adorned with clusters of grapes, using red for red wines and yellow for white wines, making it a visually striking and informative piece.

Remy Hetreau, renowned for his etchings, engravings, and illustrations, brings his artistic prowess to this map, creating a visual feast that is both informative and aesthetically pleasing. Known for his designs for Haviland Limoges china and murals at prestigious locations like the Maison de l'Amerique Latine in Paris, Hetreau's diverse artistic background is evident in the map's intricate details and elegant composition. His ability to blend art with cartography results in a map that is not only a navigational tool but also a work of art that celebrates the rich heritage of Bordeaux's wine regions.

The map's design is a harmonious blend of thematic and pictorial elements, featuring a compass rose, a sailing vessel, a chateau, and a decorative border with grapevine motifs. These artistic elements frame the map, drawing the viewer's eye to the central depiction of Bordeaux's wine-producing areas. The use of vibrant colors to differentiate between red and white wine regions adds a layer of clarity and visual appeal, making it easy to understand the geographical distribution of Bordeaux's renowned vineyards. The inclusion of a sun illustration and an illustrated figure playing a musical instrument further enhances the map's charm and character.

This map is a testament to the historical and cultural significance of Bordeaux's wine regions. It highlights major wine-producing areas such as Médoc, Entre-Deux-Mers, Saint-Émilion, and Pomerol, each marked with clusters of grapes. The rivers Dordogne and Garonne are prominently featured, emphasizing their importance in the region's viticulture. The map also labels specific wine-producing communes like Margaux, Pauillac, and Sauternes, providing a detailed and comprehensive overview of Bordeaux's wine landscape. These elements not only serve as a guide for wine enthusiasts but also as a historical record of Bordeaux's rich winemaking tradition.

Les Vignobles De France -- Vins De Bordeaux is more than just a map; it is a celebration of Bordeaux's winemaking heritage and a reflection of France's cultural pride. It serves as a reminder of the region's historical significance and its enduring legacy in the world of wine. Whether you are a wine connoisseur, a history enthusiast, or an art lover, this map offers a unique glimpse into the heart of Bordeaux's wine country, making it a valuable addition to any collection.

Cities and towns on this map

• Bordeaux
• Saint-Émilion
• Pomerol
• Pauillac
• Margaux
• Sauternes
• Blaye
• Libourne
• Langon
• Saint-Foy Bordeaux

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Compass rose
• Grapes on the vine (red for red wines, yellow for white wines)
• Sailing vessel
• Chateau
• Sun illustration
• Decorative border with grapevine motifs
• Wine cask
• Coat of arms
• Illustrated figure playing a musical instrument
• Rivers (e.g., Dordogne, Garonne)
• Wine regions (e.g., Médoc, Entre-Deux-Mers)
• Wine appellations (e.g., Saint-Émilion, Pomerol)
• Major wine-producing areas marked with clusters of grapes
• Artistic depiction of the Bordeaux region's topography
• Decorative ribbon with the title "Les Vignobles De France"
• Signage indicating "Vins De Bordeaux"
• Labels indicating specific wine-producing communes (e.g., Margaux, Pauillac)

Historical and design context

• This is a fine promotional map of the wine regions of Bordeaux.
• The map shows the major wine-producing regions with clusters of grapes, using red for red wines and yellow for white wines.
• The map is surrounded by a compass rose, grapes on the vine, a sailing vessel, and a chateau.
• This map is one of a series of 11 maps titled Les Vignobles de France.
• The other maps in the series cover Région Est, Région Normandie, Champagne, Roussillon, Val de Loire, Alsace, Côte du Rhône, Bourgogne, Côte de Provence, and the French colony Algeria [Algérie].
• These posters were commissioned by the Comité National de Propagande en Faveur du Vin, a government agency that promoted the French wine industry.
• The posters advertised French wines as well as tourism to these areas.
• Remy Hétreau was a French artist, printmaker, illustrator, and designer.
• He was known for his etchings and engravings and illustrated numerous books.
• He created designs for Haviland Limoges china, painted murals (notably at the Maison de l'Amerique Latine in Paris and the Ecole Nationale des Douanes), and designed international exhibitions of French technology.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 100in (250cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps are also available as a framed canvas. The map is printed on matte (not shiny) canvas, stretched over a box frame, and then 'floated' within a simple wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing in front of your map.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map yourself, please read my map size guide first.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and custom made maps take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes a day or two.

Please note that for larger framed orders (over 40in/100cm), and some other framed sizes, the delivery time will be closer to 7-10 days.

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps in 22 countries around the world. This means your map will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and reduces the chance of your map being damaged during delivery. There won't be any extra taxes or duties to pay, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all maps within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks or mugs) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

We can sometimes do next-day delivery if you order before 10am. But usually it's best to contact me first before you order.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your unique map for any reason, contact me for a no-quibble refund.

I am very confident you will like your old map. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and have over 4,000 real 5-star reviews.

I use a unique process to restore my maps that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore the maps. As a result, I guarantee my maps are a cut above the rest - that's why I can offer a no-quibble refund.

Almost all of my maps look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.