South West France

Wine from South West France comes out of France, where it sits as a wine region.

Growers build the wines around Tannat, filling out the blend with Malbec and Petit Manseng.

The ground underneath is alluvial, clay and gravel.

The climate is maritime/oceanic, running continental.

The vineyards themselves read as riverside.

Red wine, white wine and sweet white wine, plus two more is what the region is known for, and in the glass it shows robust and tannic, full-blooded wines, lusciously sweet and rich fruit notes, plus four more.

Labels here fall under the Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) and the Vin Délimité de Qualité Supérieure (VDQS).

Inside it sit Cahors, Bergerac, Madiran and Gaillac.

Names to look for on a shelf: Chateau Bouscasse, Chateau Montus, Domaine Elian Da Ros and Domaine Lajibe.

At the table these bottles work with beef, lamb, game and cheese.

Serve chilled.

Keeps for 5 to 10 years.

In the glass.

Red: Robust and tannic, Full-blooded wines.

Sweet white: Lusciously sweet, Rich fruit notes.

Rosé: Fresh and fruity, Making use of local varietals.

Sparkling: Range of styles, Including some traditional methods.

Grapes planted here.

Classifications.

• Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC)
• Vin Délimité de Qualité Supérieure (VDQS)

Producers worth knowing.

Bottles to look for.

• Brumont Chateau Montus 'La Tyre', Madiran, France
• Brumont Chateau Montus Blanc Sec, Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh, France
• Brumont Chateau Montus Cuvee Prestige, Madiran, France
• Brumont Chateau Montus XL, Madiran, France
• Brumont Chateau Montus, Madiran, France
• Chateau Bellevue La Foret, Fronton, France
• Chateau Bouscasse Vieilles Vignes, Madiran, France
• Chateau Bouscasse, Madiran, France

At the table.

• Beef
• Lamb
• Game
• Cheese
• Pâté

Serving and cellaring.

• Serve chilled.
• Keeps for 5 to 10 years.

Inside the region.

Nearby regions.

South West France: common questions

More from here: every wine region in France.