Southwest Region

Everything you need to know about the Southwest region

Southwest France is a vast wine-growing region located between Occitanie and Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Long overshadowed by Bordeaux, it nevertheless distinguishes itself through a great diversity of terroirs, climates, and grape varieties. It produces red, white, and rosé wines, as well as sweet and sparkling wines, often recognized for their excellent value and versatility at the table.

An ancient wine region

Vines have been cultivated in the Southwest since Roman times, long before the development of the Bordeaux vineyards. In the Middle Ages, the region was called the Haut-Pays (Upper Country ). Wines were transported via the Garonne and Dordogne rivers for export, often earlier than those from Bordeaux, which led to the establishment of the "wine police," restricting their sale.

Today, the Southwest is experiencing a resurgence of interest, driven by the promotion of its local grape varieties and a more qualitative approach to viticulture.

A vast and contrasting vineyard

The vineyards of the Southwest extend across 13 departments , from Aveyron to the Basque Country. It is the 4th largest wine-producing region in France .
The soils are very varied: molasse, alluvial soils, limestone plateaus, tawny sands, Pyrenean flysch. This geological diversity favors very different wine styles depending on the area.

Climates also vary:

• continental to the northeast

• temperate oceanic to the west

• Mediterranean south

A region organized into several sub-zones

The Southwest is generally divided into two main areas:

The Highlands

Located around the valleys of the Garonne , Dordogne , Lot and Tarn rivers, it notably includes:

• Bergerac and its many appellations (Bergerac, Côtes de Bergerac, Monbazillac, Montravel…)

• Cahors , Gaillac , Marcillac , Côtes de Millau

• Côtes du Marmandais , Coteaux du Quercy

The Pyrenean Piedmont

It includes the vineyards further south:

• Jurançon and Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh

• Saint-Mont , Tursan , Béarn , Irouléguy

• Côtes de Gascogne , notably featuring Floc de Gascogne

These areas produce red, white and rosé wines, as well as sweet and sparkling wines.

Grape varieties and wine styles

The Southwest is one of the French regions richest in indigenous grape varieties.
Among the best known:

• Malbec , Tannat , Fer Servadou , Négrette for the reds

• Petit Manseng , Gros Manseng , Colombard , Sémillon , Loin-de-l'Œil for the whites

Red wines are often structured, white wines can be dry or sweet, and rosé wines are produced in most appellations.

Food and wine pairings from the Southwest

Red wines from the Southwest pair well with flavorful meats such as Aubrac beef or duck breast.
Dry white wines pair well with mushrooms, Bayonne ham or fish.
Sweet and mellow wines pair well with cheeses or certain sweet and savory dishes.
Rosé wines are suitable for simple, summery cuisine.

Estates to discover in the Southwest

This selection highlights estates that are representative of the diversity and renewal of the vineyards of Southwest France:

• Château Barouillet

• Aydie Castle

• Clos Troteligotte

• Brin Estate

These estates allow you to discover the wines of the Southwest through accessible vintages as well as more assertive expressions, always linked to their terroir of origin.