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Southwestern France or Sud-Ouest is a wine-producing region.
edit Tasting
edit Facts and figures
- Main varietals (Red): Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cot, Fer Servadou, Tannat, Négrette...
- Main varietals (White): Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillion, Mauzac, Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng, Colombard...
edit History
Like elsewhere in France, winegrowing in the Southwest only started with the Roman conquest, and was later maintained by monks from the many monasteries and abbeys of the region.
Some appellations of this region have long enjoyed success, such as Cahors which was massively exported to England as early as the 13th century.
Monks of the Madiran monastery also enjoyed early success with their wine, which was a favorite of French king Francis I and the kings of England. Despite this popularity, Madiran only became an official AOC appellation in 1948.
Southwestern France always suffered from the competition of neighboring Bordeaux, and its lack of trade routes with the rest of France. Vineyards of this region were much weakened by the phyloxera epidemic at the end of the 19th century, and only recovered during the 1970s.
Today, Southwestern France is renowned for its rich traditions and its unique wines.
edit Geography
Southwestern vineyards cover a huge area between Bordeaux to the West, Millau to the East, and the French Basque Country to the South. This region includes the administrative départements of Pyrénées-Atlantiques (64), Landes (40), Gironde (33), Dordogne (24), Lot-et-Garonne (47), Lot (46), Tarn-et-Garonne (82), Haute-Garonne (31) and Tarn (81).
Soils of Southwestern France are diversified; Bergerac lays on slopes and tables of alluvia with a limestone-rich underground, while Cahors and Gaillac lay on gravel soils, and Irouléguy lays on sandstone, shale and mica.
edit Climate
Southwestern France enjoys an oceanic climate comparable to Bordeaux, especially in northwestern parts of the region. In the Northeast, vineyards lose this oceanic influence but still enjoy moderate climate variations, with sunny summers and falls. Madiran and Irouléguy enjoy an oceanic influence with high temperatures during the fall, helping grape maturation and over-maturation.
edit Viticulture
edit See also
