The pleasant country town of Bergerac lies at the heart of a cluster of appellations in the département of the Dordogne. The area is rich in agriculture, with strawberries, orchards and tobacco, and is also known for walnuts, kiwis, ceps and truffles. The undulating hillsides form a natural continuation of those of St Emilion : it is only the departmental boundary, rather than any physical frontier, that separates Bergerac's vineyards from Bordeaux. Bergerac is the main appellation of this area, stretching from St Emilion to beyond Bergerac, mostly on the right bank of the Dordogne river.
The climate is similar to that of Bordeaux, with the maritime influence of the Atlantic making for usually mild winters and moderate rainfall. The soil too is similar to Bordeaux, and in particular to that of St Emilion : a mixture of gravel, clay and limestone.