Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh AOC

Appellation for white wine in the south-west region of France, which is identical in area to the Madiran appellation (red wine). In the past, white wine and red wine were produced under the joint AOC designation Vic-Bilh. The Gascon dialect name is derived from the vine training "Piquets-en-rangs" (single-pole training), where the vines are trained on high stakes. Vic-Bilh" (Vieux Pays = Old Country) refers to the local hills. The name thus means "stakes in a row from the Vic-Bilh hills".

The vineyards cover 300 hectares of vines in the departments of Gers (3 communes), Pyrénées-Atlantiques (28) and Hautes-Pyrénées (6). The climate is oceanic, with hot summers, dry, sunny autumns and relatively mild winters. The deep yellow, long-lasting white wine with aromas of candied fruit and honey is blended from Courbu Blanc, Petit Courbu, Gros Manseng and Petit Manseng (approx. 60%, max. 80% per variety), as well as Ruffiat (Arrufiac) and max. 10% Sauvignon Blanc. Two thirds of it is produced moelleux (semi-sweet to sweet) and one third sec (dry) (the AOC designation Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh sec applies to the dry version).

Well-known producers include Château d'Aydie, Château Barrejat, Château Laffitte-Teston, Domaine Berthoumieu, Château Montus (Brumont), Domaine Capmartin, Domaine Damiens, Domaine de Diusse, Domaine du Crampilh, Domaine Frédéric Laplace, Domaine Sergent and Domaine Tailleurguet. The "Plaimont Producteurs" community monitors parcels of old vines under the name "Conservatoire ampélographique". See also the commune of Sarragachies (Département Gers), where there is a very special vineyard.