The wine area Medoc also has pine forests and long sandy beaches. The Médoc's geography is not ideal for wine growing, with its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean resulting in a comparatively mild climate and high rainfall making rot a constant problem.
It is generally believed that the nature of the region's wine derives from the soil; although the terrain is flat, the excellent drainage is a necessity and the increased amount of gravel in the soil allows heat to be retained, encouraging ripening, and extensive root systems.

With the exception of Château Haut-Brion from Graves, all of the red wines in the 1855 Classification of Grand Cru Classé's are from the Médoc. Many of the Médoc wines that are not in this classification are classified under the Cru Bourgeois system.

Almost all of the region's wine consists mainly of the cabernet sauvignon grape, with merlot forming the majority of the remainder. In addition cabernet franc is usually used in small quantities, with petit verdot and malbec occasionally added.