French Wine - Southwest Region |
One of the most exciting winemaking regions in Southwestern France is Madiran, located within the gently rolling hills of Vic-Bihl -- local patois or dialect for old country. The rolling countryside of this sleepy area inhabits the corners of three French départments: the Gers, the Pyrénées Atlantique and the Haut Pyrénées.
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Vin de Pays laws are much more flexible than AOC laws, which has enabled many winemakers in those areas to experiment with grapes and aging techniques not allowed in more controlled zones.
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Jurançon is a white winemaking region located near the city of Pau, within the foothills of the Pyrénée Mountains. The region's greatest fame came in 1553 when Henri IV was born and Jurançon wine became part of French history.
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The appellation Bergerac takes its name from the main town in the Dordogne, located east of Bordeaux in the area also known as the Perigord. Indeed the vineyards of Bergerac touch those of Bordeaux and, as the permitted grape varieties are the same, the wines of Bordeaux and Bergerac have a great deal in common.
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The Cahors appellation is located in the department of Lot, within the greater region known as Quercy. The rolling hills of the area that twist gently along with the River Lot provides the tourist with many photo opportunities.
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The rolling hills of the Gers departement are covered by sunflowers, corn, and plenty of vines for both armagnac and excellent wine. Michel Duffour resides in the small town of Lagraulet, and since the early 1980's has dedicated himself to producing quality red and white wines.
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Pierre Speyer moved to Madiran from his native Belgium in the early nineties. Buying a property in Maumusson, Pierre quickly became one of the region's sought after producers.
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Béarn is an odd appellation in that none of its three parts are connected; instead they are separated by miles of corn fields, cow pastures, and woody knolls.
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The Côtes du Frontonais is a highly unique winemaking region located on the left bank of the Tarn River about twenty miles north of Toulouse. The area is generally flat, with occasional hills that create small slopes. The subsoil is composed of ice age deposits, topped by alluvial soil and rouget, a material very rich in iron that lends a particular flavor to the wines.
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As one drives along a small road in the Aveyron, one is soothed by the gently rolling green hills scattered with sheep or blonde aquitaine cows. It is a small, peaceful area that is stuck between two more famous regions; Bordeaux and the Rhône.
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The Beraut family has some of the largest vineyard holdings in the Côtes de Gascogne region of Southwestern France. In recent years, they have increased their plantings of Chardonnay and Merlot, along with the region's more traditional Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Tannat, Ugni Blanc, Colombard and Folle Blanche.
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Gaillac has had vineyards since before the birth of Christ, making it one of the oldest wine growing regions in France. Large developments took place in 972 with the arrival of the Benedictine monks who founded an abbay in the town of St. Michel. Laws were established regarding the quality of wines from Gaillac in 1271, and in 1938, the white wines of the region were granted AOC status.
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Tucked deep within the Pyrénées along the Spanish border, Irouléguy is the western-most appellation in France. In contrast to the masculine peaks of the Alps on the other side of the country, the green grass-covered mounds that comprise the Pyrénées are rounder, giving one a sense of security rather than peril.
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One summer morning I was hanging out with Jean-Bernard Larrieu at Clos Lapeyre tasting through a recent vintage. When we had wrapped things up, I asked him if he knew of any beer producers in the area, as I often like to finish off tastings with a beer. He brought out a couple of bottles which had been given to him, one whose label was in Basque and the other with a large goat head on it.
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