Everything you need to know about the South-West region

The South-West is a vast wine-growing region located between Occitanie and Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Long overshadowed by Bordeaux, it is nonetheless distinguished by 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 for money and versatility at the table.

An ancient wine-growing region

Vines have been planted in the South-West since Roman times, long before the development of the Bordeaux vineyard. In the Middle Ages, the region was called the Haut-Pays. Wines were transported via the Garonne and Dordogne rivers for export, often earlier than those from Bordeaux, which led to the establishment of "wine policing," limiting their commercialization.

Today, the South-West is experiencing a resurgence of interest, driven by the valorization of its local grape varieties and a more qualitative approach to viticulture.

An extensive and contrasting vineyard

The South-West vineyard extends over 13 departments, from Aveyron to the Basque Country. It is the 4th largest French wine region.
The soils are very varied: molasse, alluvial soils, limestone plateaus, "sables fauves" (red sands), Pyrenean flysch. This geological diversity favors very different wine styles depending on the areas.

Climates also vary:

• continental in the north-east

• temperate oceanic in the west

• Mediterranean in the south

A region organized into several sub-zones

The South-West is generally divided into two main zones:

The Haut-Pays

Located around the valleys of the Garonne, Dordogne, Lot, and Tarn, 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 gathers the vineyards further south:

• Jurançon and Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh

• Saint-Mont, Tursan, Béarn, Irouléguy

• Côtes de Gascogne, notably with Floc de Gascogne

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

Grape varieties and wine styles

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

• Malbec, Tannat, Fer Servadou, Négrette for reds

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

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

Food and wine pairings from the South-West

South-West red wines pair well with characterful meats like Aubrac beef or duck breast.
Dry whites go well with mushrooms, Bayonne ham, or fish.
Sweet and moelleux wines pair with cheeses or certain sweet and savory dishes.
Rosés are suitable for simple, summer cuisine.

South-West estates to discover

This selection highlights estates representative of the diversity and renewal of the South-West vineyard:

• Château Barouillet

• Château d’Aydie

• Clos Troteligotte

• Domaine de Brin

These estates offer an opportunity to discover South-West wines through accessible cuvées as well as more assertive expressions, always linked to their original terroir.