Vineyards of South West France

Exciting, unusual wines and variations on Bordeaux styles

Feb 27, 2009 Darby Higgs

Bordeaux is the centre of wine production in this corner of France, but there are other nearby regions producing delicious and often more affordable wines.

There are many lesser known wine regions in the South West of France. Some act as satellites to the major Bordeaux region, producing similar styles of red and white wines from the same grape varieties. Others are markedly different in varieties and styles. Their wines are not so well known outside the region but are well worth seeking out.

Appellations Controllee in South West France

Bearn

The Bearn appellation produces both red and white wines. The reds are based on Tannat, often blended with Cabernets and Fer as well as a couple of regional specialities Courbu Noir and Manseng Noir. These wines have reputation for astringency. White wines are less common here. Those that are made are based on blends of such regional varieties as Menseng, Petit Courbu, Lauzet and perhaps Sauvignon blanc.

Buzet

The Buzet region lies to the south of the Garonne River, midway between Toulouse and Bordeaux. Its main products are red wines based on the Bordeaux varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.

Cahors

The Cahors region straddles the Lot river downstream from the picturesque town of that name with the medieval bridge. The region produces red wines mainly from the Malbec variety. Many producers blend in up to 30% Tannat for astringency, or Merlot for softness. Cahors wines have a reputation for being dark and full.

Cotes de Duras

The Cotes de Duras is adjacent to the north eastern edge of Bordeaux. Both red and white wines are made here from similar grape varieties to those used in Bordeaux. Some of the whites wines contain the less common varieties of Ondenc and Mauzac, the latter variety adding an aromatic dimension to blends. Confusingly the red grape variety called Duras is used in the Gaillac appellation, but not in the Cotes de Duras.

Cotes du Frontonnais

The speciality of the Cotes du Frontonnais region is red wine made predominantly from the unusual Negrette variety, used because of the aromatic perfumed flavour it gives to the wine.

Gaillac

North of the city of Albi we find the vineyards of Gaillac, known for their diverse wine styles made from several distinctive local varieties. White wines are often made using the varieties Mauzac and Len de L'el. Red wines are based on Fer, Duras and Syrah. They are known for their strength of colour, body and acidity.

Cotes du Marmandais

Cotes du Marmandais is a another satellite to Bordeaux region. It makes red wines from the Bordeaux varieties often augmented by the local speciality Arbouriou as well as Fer, Gamay and Syrah.

Irouleguy

Irouleguy is in the foothills of the Pyrenees, adjacent to the Spanish border. The country and the wines have a distinctive Basque feel. Light crisp reds are made with Tannat blended with Cabernets, while fragrant whites are made from Petit Courbu, Gros Manseng and Petit Manseng.

Jurancon

This is the name of the region around Pau and its renowned sweet white wine made from Petit Courbu, Gros Manseng and Petit Manseng.n . A drier version, Jurancon Sec, is also made.

Madiran and Pacherenc de Vic-Bilh

These are the red and white wines respectively of the region around Madiran. Tannat is the core of red wine production here, often blended with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Fer. The sweet and dry whites are similar to those of Jurancon, but may also include Arrufiac in the blend.

The Dordogne wine region is immediately to the north of the regions described above. It is the subject of another article.

The information about varieties in the various regions discussed in this article is from De Long's Wine Grape Table and Index

The copyright of the article Vineyards of South West France in Old World Wine is owned by Darby Higgs. Permission to republish Vineyards of South West France in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Maison Du Vin in Duras

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