South West of France is the most diverse wine region in France. It is also one of the oldest. Many grape varieties grow only in this region: Tannat, Manseng, Fer Servadou, Mérille and dozen of other varieties.
Wines from the South-West have often been confused with Bordeaux wines, which caused a lot of problems at the beginning of the century when the area of Bordeaux production was delimited.
The history and the diversity result in unfashionable wines with a lot of personality. Tannic full-body red wine in Madiran, sweet viscous of Monbazillac, intense red Cahors or aromatic dry Jurançon. The wines from South West of France have plenty of things to offer to any wine lovers.
The main grapes in South West of France are Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat, Merlot and Malbec for red wine. The main white grapes are Sémillon, Sauvignon, Ugni Blanc and Manseng.
South West of France wine making information:
Size of the vineyards:
16,000 hectares (40,000 acres)
Vineyards:
6,000 winemakers
Soil:
Clay
Limestone
Pebbles (from the Pyrénées mountains)
Weather:
Oceanic (cool and rainy winter and spring, warm summer, sunny autumn)
Red Grapes:
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
Merlot
Tannat, Malbec
White Grapes:
Sauvignon, Sémillon
Ugni Blanc, Colombard
Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng
Muscadelle, Clairette
Production:
270 million bottles
88% red wine - 7% dry white wine - 3% rosé - 2% sweet white wine
3% of French wine production
Type of Wine:
Full body red wine:Madiran
Intense red wine: Cahors, Bergerac
Sweet viscous white wine: Monbazillac, Jurançon
Aromatic dry white wine: Jurançon (dry)
