South-West Wines
Wine on the Atlantic Coast of France
Geography and terroir
Disseminated in a rhombus formed by the towns of Bordeaux, Bayonne, Toulouse and Aurillac, the vineyard extends on the South-west.
Between the Indian summer with the Pays Basque with its sandy ground for Madiran, Tursan and Irouleguy or stonier for Jurançon and the plates with the calcareous basement of the edges of the Garonne for Monbazillac.
The oceanic climate of the Atlantic coast becomes gradually moderate towards the interior of the grounds, proposing a very great wine diversity resulting from these soils.
Grape Varieties
For red wines:
- Cabernet franc
- Cabernet-sauvignon
- Duras
- Fer Servadou
- Merlot
- Negrette
- Tannat
- Auxerrois ou Cot
For white wines:
- Petit Manseng
- Gros Manseng
- Mauzac
- Muscadelle
- Semillon
- Sauvignon
Appellations
Among the many AOC:
- Bergerac
- Buzet
- Cahors
- Gaillac
- Irouleguy
- Jurançon
- Madiran
- Marcillac
- Monbazillac
- Pacherench du Vic Bilh
- Pecharmant
- Rosette
- Cotes de Bergerac
- Cotes de Duras
- Cotes du Frontonnais
- Cotes du Marmandais
- Cotes de Montravel
Among the many AOVDQS (Label of origin Wine of Higher Quality):
- Tursan
- Coteaux du Quercy
- Cotes du Brulhois
- Cotes de Saint-Mont
Red wines
Madiran: rough wine, with a constant color. Ideal with a steaklet or duck conserve.
Cahors: deep, tender and sharp wine. To be served with a cheese soufflé.
Bergerac: balanced wine, of which the flavours characteristic are well developed. It accompanies the roast poultries
White wines
Jurançon: dry and fruity wine. Serve it with a smoked salmon of Adour or will chipirons.
Monbazillac: marrowy, yellow straw wine, similar to Sauternes. To be served fresh (11°C) with foie gras or laminated for the Roquefort.
French version