From the Garonne river to the Lot valley, from Basque country to Toulouse, the southwest is a patchwork of different regions faraway from each other, united by an Atlantic-influenced climate, offering all wine styles: dry white Gaillac, sweet Monbazillac, chunky red Cahors... The Comité Interprofessionnel des Vins du Sud-Ouest website (the regional body): www.vins-du-sud-ouest.com Grower’s blog
http://moulin-garreau.over-blog.com/
Between Rodez and Aurillac, ‘Rouergue’ country ‘Vins d'Entraygues et du Fel’ – ‘Vins d'Estaing’ - Marcillac Gaillac and Albi Gaillac Wine Route Cahors, ‘Quercy’ country AOC Cahors Côteaux-du-Quercy
From Toulouse to Buzet - Lomagne country AOC Côtes du Frontonnais (the Négrette variety) AOVDQS Sardos AOVDQS ‘Vins de Lavilledieu’
The Agen area Côtes de Brulhois Buzet
Between Bergerac and Marmande - Bergerac country The Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins de la région de Bergerac (regional trade body) website, which groups these appellation areas together Bergerac Pécharmant Rosette Haut-Montravel Côtes de Montravel Montravel Saussignac Monbazillac
The Marmande area Côtes du Marmandais Côtes de Duras
From Tarbes to Mont-de-Marsan, Chalosse country Côtes de Saint-Mont in the Gers department Tursan Madiran shaped by the Tannat variety (the same one you’ll find in Uruguay, where it was taken by a Basque emigré) Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh
Gascony Gascony has created a clear image around ‘Floc de Gascogne’ (local aperitif), Armagnac (the region’s famous brandy) and Côtes-de-Gascogne wines, which all have these varieties in common: Baco, Colombard, Ugni blanc, Gros and Petit Manseng.
From Pau to Biarritz, Béarn and Basque country Jurançon
Béarn
Béarn Bellocq Irouléguy (Etienne Brana), well placed to quench the thirst of St. James of Santiago’s pilgrims, just like Madiran.
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