Wine House. Music and Cook and Wine takes place in August in front of the estuary in the Tourist Office and Wine House's gardens. Free concerts, free tastings with local winemakers and a food market with regional specialities. The Marathon du Médoc takes place in September. It is considered "the longest Marathon in the world" because the race is interspersed with several activities such as wine tasting stops and orchestras scattered around the course. Most of the 8,500 participants, representing more than 50 nations, run in costume. Reed beds Extending over several kilometres alongside the estuary, reed beds have flourished and constitute a natural habitat for many plant and animal species. In the more urbanized areas in Pauillac, the reed beds are mown once a year to allow local inhabitants to enjoy the view over the estuary. The mowing period is chosen carefully so as to minimize disturbance of the natural biotope. Some of the reeds are protected by the Natura 2000 legislation. Since 2015, they are part of the Gironde estuary and Pertuis sea Marine Nature Park. Wine The wines of Pauillac are often considered the quintessence of Bordeaux wines. British author and expert on wine Hugh Johnson has said, "If one had to single out one commune of Bordeaux to head the list, there would be no argument. It would be Pauillac." The commune consists of only of vineyards in the Haut-Médoc between the villages of Saint-Julien to the south and Saint-Estèphe to the north, but is home to 18 Grands Crus Classés (classification of 1855) including three of Bordeaux's five first-growth wines: Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Latour, and Château Mouton Rothschild. Selection of Pauillac estates Château d'Armailhac Château Clerc-Milon Château Duhart-Milon-Rothschild Château Grand-Puy-Ducasse Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste Château Haut-Bages-Liberal Château Haut-Batailley Château Lafite Rothschild Château Latour Château Lynch-Bages Château Mouton Rothschild Château Pedesclaux Château Pichon Longueville Baron Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande Château Pontet-Canet See also French wine Bordeaux wine Bordeaux wine regions Communes of the Gironde department References Communes of Gironde