Four designations surround Saint-Emilion's: Montagne, Lussac, Saint-Georges, and Puisseguin. These villages add their name to the Saint-Émilion village to compose the title given to their designation. Two main grape varieties, particularly well adapted to the local climate and soil, are grown there: Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
Unlike the neighboring Médoc region, Cabernet Sauvignon is only used in very small quantities on the right bank, as it does not get enough heat to reach full maturity. This is what led the Saint-Emilion region to use between 50 to 70% Merlot and 20 to 50% Cabernet Franc, thus producing fruity and round wines.