The appellation was created in 1987 as a sub-region of the Graves wine-making district south of the city of Bordeaux to represent the area's better-known producers, and is centred around the towns of Pessac, Talence and Léognan. It contains all of the Grands Crus Classés listed in the classifications of 1953 and 1959, several noted for producing both red and dry white wine of classed standard.
Chateaux of this appellation include: