South-west France

The wine-growing areas of this large region (French: Sud-Ouest) are among the oldest in France. Geographically and historically, this includes the entire area between the Massif Central, which forms the eastern border, and the Atlantic coast in the west, all the way south to the Pyrenees on the border with Spain. Administratively, it comprises the former regions of Midi-Pyrénées and Aquitaine; geographically, it is the catchment area of the Dordogne, Garonne and Adour rivers. Julius Caesar (100-44 BC) first referred to the Roman province he conquered between the River Garonne and the Pyrenees as Aquitaine (French: Guyenne). Emperor Charlemagne (742-814) incorporated it into the Frankish Empire. After a chequered history as an independent county, the addition of Gascony and then under English rule from the middle of the 12th century, the region only finally became part of France in 1453.

Viticulture and grape varieties

In the Middle Ages, the Catholic orders cultivated vines here, with the Catholic Cistercian order in particular making a name for themselves. The Dutch demand for brandy and sweet wines from the 17th century onwards characterised the wine style. It was at this time that the name Haut-Pays (upper country - upstream from Bordeaux) came into common use. For a long time, however, the wines were overshadowed by the Bordelais. Wine was sold from the harbour in Bordeaux and all other regions had to wait until all the wine had been shipped from there. South-west France is also known as a "vine museum", as there are many indigenous grape varieties, some of which are ancient, that are increasingly being cultivated again. These include the Arrufiac, Baroque, Duras, Fer, Lauzet, Len de l'El, Mauzac Blanc, Manseng Noir, Négrette and Tannat varieties. These give the wines a distinctive, typical flavour. However, the classic Bordeaux varieties Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon are also represented. The biggest common feature of this huge region is the Atlantic climate. There is plenty of moisture in winter and spring, warm summers and long, sunny autumns.

Appellations

The region encompasses the wine-growing areas of south-west France with the exception of Bordeaux. The vineyards cover a total of 160,000 hectares. That is as much as the two countries of Germany and Austria combined. The region is divided into five major sub-areas that produce different styles of wine with their own unique character. In the centre is the famous Armagnac brandy region, much older than the better-known Cognac. The north is dominated by the large Bergerac region, to the south of which lies Cahors. To the east lies Gaillac, which is steeped in history. And in the south-west corner on the edge of the Pyrenees are the two famous areas of Jurançon and Madiran:

• Armagnac (AOC)
• Atlantique (IGP)
• Béarn, Béarn-Belocq (AOC)
• Bergerac, Côtes de Bergerac (AOC)
• Blanquette de Limoux (AOC)
• Buzet, Côtes de Buzet (AOC)
• Cabardès, Côtes du Cabardès et de l'Orbiel (AOC)
• Cahors (AOC)
• Charentais (IGP)
• Comté Tolosan (IGP)
• Corrèze (AOC)
• Coteaux du Quercy (AOC)
• Côtes de Gascogne (IGP)
• Côtes de Duras (AOC)
• Côtes de Millau (AOC)
• Côtes de Saint-Mont (AOC)
• Côtes du Brulhois (AOC)
• Côtes du Marmandais (AOC)
• Côtes du Tarn (IGP)
• Floc de Gascogne (AOC)
• Fronton - until 2004 Côtes du Frontonnais (AOC)
• Gaillac, Gaillac Doux, Gaillac Méthode Gaillacoise, Gaillac Prèmieres Côtes (AOC)
• Irouléguy (AOC)
• Jurançon (AOC)
• Lavilledieu (IGP)
• Madiran (AOC)
• Marcillac (AOC)
• Monbazillac (AOC)
• Montravel, Côtes de Montravel, Haut-Montravel (AOC)
• Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh (AOC)
• Pécharmant (AOC)
• Rosette (AOC)
• Saint-Sardos (AOC)
• Saussignac (AOC)
• Tursan (AOC)
• Vins d'Entraygues et du Fel (AOC)
• Vins d'Estaing (AOC)

Map: by DalGobboM¿!i? - Eigéne's work, GFDL, link