Henri IV made history in 1553, his lips rubbed with a clove of garlic and moistened with a drop of Jurançon. It is said that he already knew what was good at the time... Discover Jurançon, king of wine and wine of the king! With its strong history, the Jurançon vineyard was planted more than 2000 years ago by the Romans.
The steps of our Jurançon Wine Route :
The Jurançon vineyard provides as much pleasure in the mouth as it does visually. Nestled in a green and sunny setting, surrounded by the terraces of the Château de Pau and the Pyrenean ranges, it is idyllic. Three climates clash in the Jurançon vineyard and make it unique. The wines of the Jurançon facing south or south-west are influenced by the mountains, the ocean and the foehn, a dry and warm wind that usually blows in autumn and late winter.
Gros Manseng and Petit Manseng are the main grape varieties used in the Jurançon region. The dry Jurançons are round and long on the palate. Dressed in a golden robe, it emits floral and fresh fruit aromas on the nose. The sweet jurançons are round, sweet and with a hint of acidity. It develops aromas of white flowers, honey and candied fruits in its "green gold" robe.
Les Grappes presents a perfect itinerary to start on the Jurançon Wine Route and discover wine tourism.
On the way to the Atlantic Pyrenees, in a Domain that has been handed down for 5 generations. Created in 1750, the Lihour family acquired Domaine Castéra in 1885. Today it is Franck and Christian Lihour, his father, who are at the head of the Domaine. Franck took over the winemaking profession when his father retired but the two men still work together. Franck's mother, Pierrette is also present at Domaine Castéra, she manages all the logistics.
Together they cultivate 11 hectares of vines and are very proud of them. Their ambition is to make fresh wines that are faithful to the terroir and not universal wines without any identity. The grape varieties planted are Gros Manseng, Petit Manseng but also Petit Courbu (on less than 1 ha).
Anxious to respect the vine and their terroir, the Lihours work without any anti-rotting agents, use natural fertilizers and manure...
The wines made by Franck are fresh, elegant and gourmet. Meet Pierrette, Franck and Christian at Domaine Castéra for a visit of their fabulous estate followed by a tasting of several of their wines.
Going a few kilometres further, getting closer to the town of Pau, you will find the Domaine du Cinquau. The history of the Domaine de Cinquau goes back at least to 1620, writings attest that it was already producing Jurançon wine at that time. The Saubot family owns the Domaine du Cinquau. Pierre Saubot and his wife Béatrice and their children work hand in hand to perpetuate the tradition and produce a Jurançon of character. The vineyard extends over 9 hectares surrounding the house, the cellars and the winery. It is planted with typical Jurançon grape varieties: Gros Manseng, Petit Manseng, and Petit Courbu.
At the Domaine du Cinquau, the family welcomes you for a tour of the entire estate and a tasting of their Jurançon wines. It's an enriching experience that conveys the passion for wine to everyone.
How can we drive right by the town of Pau and not stop there? This city, full of history but also modern, is a must on your route. Former capital of the principality of Béarn, the city of Pau is located at the foot of the Pyrenees. On the Royal Square, a statue of King Henri IV is displayed and dominates the square.
Don't miss taking the small funicular transporting you between the upper and lower parts of the city of Pau but also back in time. In the heart of Pau, discover the historical district, full of charm. To finish your visit of the city as it should be, go to the Castle of Pau. It is an emblematic monument of the city and today a museum that will plunge you into local and national history.
Last step of our Jurançon Wine Route, go down a little further south, 15mn from the town of Pau, to discover the Clos Lapeyre. This vineyard extends over 18 hectares and is mainly composed of Petits and Gros Mansengs, two grape varieties also associated with Courbu and Camaralet. Jean-Bernard Larrieu is a tireless winegrower, at the head of this Domaine, he manages a team of 7 people. Jean-Bernard represents the third generation of his family.
The Larrieu had decided to devote their farm to polyculture. The climate of the region is initially very sunny but also has very rainy winters, sometimes stormy summers and a fairly mild and dry autumn. Jean-Bernard cultivates his vineyard according to the rules of Organic Agriculture, respecting the environment.
Come and meet Jean-Bernard Larrieu to discover all the secrets of Jurançon production. He offers you a visit of the cellars and the museum followed by a tasting of the dry and sweet Jurançon wines produced in Organic Agriculture.
