Wines of the Southwest

The wine-growing region of southwestern France is a mosaic of small, ancient vineyards. As early as the 1st century, Prince Probus lent his name to a vineyard in Cahors. Winemakers in the southwest benefited from the English presence in Aquitaine, but remained in the shadow of the Bordeaux vineyards for a long time, suffering in particular from a lack of transportation routes. It was not until the 1970s that a new impetus was given to production in the Southwest and to its reputation.

The vineyards of the Southwest cover a total of 70,000 hectares, spread across four main regions: Guyenne, Gascony, the Haut-Pays—which encompasses the wine-growing areas of the Garonne, Lot, and Tarn—and finally the Pyrenees. Among the diverse terroirs, one finds renowned appellations as varied as Madiran, Pécharmant, Cahors, Pacherec du Vic Bilh, Monbazillac, Comte Tolosan, Bergerac, Buzet, Fronton, Côtes de Gascogne, and Gaillac. The climate of the Southwest is oceanic, with Mediterranean influences for the terroirs located furthest to the east. Some vineyards in the Southwest are also subject to the effects of mountainous terrain.

What characterizes the wines of the Southwest is the use of old indigenous grape varieties or those rare elsewhere, such as Abouriou, Cot, Ondenc, Duras, Fer Servadou, Négrette, l'En de l'El, Tannat, Manseng, Courbu, Lauzet, Camaralet, etc. Industry professionals are working to establish structures to preserve traditional grape varieties and regulate the introduction of new vines. Some appellations in the Southwest produce wines in all three colors, and even sparkling wines, as in Gaillac; others are dedicated to white or red wines exclusively, and to complicate matters further, these appellations sometimes overlap geographically.  Wine lovers, however, can rejoice in this vast range, defined by its diversity, underpinned by its originality, and assertive in its character.

Discover the estates of the Southwest region: Uby, Tariquet, Montus, Combel la Serre, Tour des Gendres, Ancienne Cure, Aydie.

For more information, visit the official website of the Southwest region’s wines.