Wines of the Southwest

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

The Southwest’s vineyards cover a total of 70,000 hectares, spread across four main regions: Guyenne, Gascony, the Haut-Pays—which encompasses the wine-producing 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 Southwest’s climate is oceanic, with Mediterranean influences in the easternmost terroirs. Some vineyards in the Southwest are also influenced by 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, and others. Industry professionals are working to establish a framework 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—while others are dedicated to white or red wines exclusively; to complicate matters further, these appellations sometimes overlap geographically.  Wine lovers, however, can rejoice in this vast range, which is defined by its diversity, underpinned by its originality, and distinguished by its character.

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

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