Irouléguy AOC

This small appellation in the southeast corner of the wine-growing region of southwest France was classified in 1970. It is located on the Spanish border in the French Basque Country, just opposite the Spanish DO area of Chacolí de Getaria. They were a thriving wine-growing area in the time of the Kingdom of Navarre (which covered an area from Barcelona to Bordeaux) founded at the beginning of the 10th century. The terraced vineyards at altitudes of up to 400 metres above sea level cover around 215 hectares of vines on the southern slopes of the Pyrenees in 15 municipalities, including Irouléguy, which gives its name to the region.

The climate is influenced by the nearby Atlantic. The mainly produced rosé wine and the red wine similar to Madiran are blended from the varieties Tannat, Achéria (Cabernet Franc) and Cabernet Sauvignon. For the white wine produced in small quantities, the varieties Courbu Blanc and Petit Courbu (see also Hondarribi Zuri) and Gros Manseng are permitted. Well-known producers are Domaine Abotia, Domaine Ameztia, Domaine Arretxea, Domaine Brana, Domaine Etxegaraya and Domaine Ilarria, as well as the cooperatives CV d'Irouléguy and Les Vignerons du Pays-Basque.