South-West France (Sud-Ouest)

1. Overview

The South-West of France is a large and varied wine region that lies between Bordeaux and the Pyrenees Mountains.
It’s made up of many small areas, each with its own grapes and traditions.
The region is known for its local grape varieties, warm climate, and wide range of wines — from strong reds to sweet whites and even sparkling styles.

2. Climate and Landscape

The South-West has a mix of climates:

• Near Bordeaux (Bergerac & Duras): mild and sunny.
• Inland (Cahors): warmer and drier with hot summers.
• Mountain foothills (Jurançon, Irouléguy): cooler, wetter, and windier.

Soils range from gravel and clay in the valleys to limestone and slate on the hills.
These changes in weather and soil give each wine area its own character.

3. Main Grapes

Red grapes:

• Malbec (Côt): the main grape of Cahors, making dark, powerful reds.
• Tannat: the star of Madiran, very deep and tannic but now made softer with modern methods.
• Négrette: found in Fronton, giving soft, perfumed reds.

White grapes:

• Gros and Petit Manseng: used in Jurançon for both dry and sweet wines with bright acidity.
• Mauzac: gives fresh sparkling wines in Gaillac.
• Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon: grown in Bergerac, similar to Bordeaux styles.

4. Main Wine Areas

• Bergerac & Monbazillac: Merlot-based reds; sweet botrytised whites.
• Cahors: rich, tannic Malbec wines known as “the Black Wines.”
• Gaillac: dry whites, reds, and sparkling wines made by the old ancestral method (one fermentation in bottle).
• Fronton: soft, floral reds from Négrette.
• Madiran: strong reds from Tannat; Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh makes sweet white wines.
• Jurançon: crisp dry whites and rich sweet wines from the Manseng grapes.
• Irouléguy: small Basque area making red, white, and rosé wines.

5. Summary

The South-West of France is full of variety — warm valleys, cool hills, and many local grapes found nowhere else.
From the powerful Malbec wines of Cahors to the golden sweet wines of Jurançon, it’s one of France’s most distinctive and exciting wine regions.