The wine growing area of the Sud-Ouest is spread over a lot of French regions: Aquitaine, Limousin, Auvergne and Midi-Pyrénées. This region has an oceanic climate : summers are warm and the late autumns are favour the ripening of the grapes. The soil is mostly clayey-gravelly in the north of this huge vineyard. The other plots, further south, are composed of silica, sandstone, molasses, and bank gravels. The Madiran soil is argilo-calcareous, as well as in Cahors, which contains also pebbles and ferruginous sand. The vine area in PDO is 70548 acres.
Main grapes varieties
White grape varieties
- Sémillon : this grape variety originating in Bordeaux is very aromatic, with a lack of acidity, quite alcoholic and is often blended with the Sauvignon.
- Sauvignon : fine and balanced, this grape variety acquires a significant range of aromas.
- Muscadelle : this discreet grape variety, with a floral note is often blended with other varieties.
- Ugni blanc : gives wines with a good acidity.
- Petit Manseng : this is the variety of « Jurançon », where fineness, exotic and/or dried fruits, honey and spices are mixed up.
- Other white grape varieties : Chenin blanc, Ondenc, Camaralet de Lasseube, Courbu, Raffiat and Arrufiac.
Red grape varieties
- Cabernet franc : gives fruity, floral and spicy wines.
- Cabernet sauvignon : gives fruity and coloured wines, suitable for ageing.
- Merlot : rapidly evolving grape variety, gives coloured wines with concentrated aromas.
- Malbec : also named ‘Cot’, gives a fruity, coloured wine which evolves rapidly.
- Tannat : gives a strong, coloured and tannic wine.
- Négrette : gives aromatic and slightly tannic wines, to be drunk when they are « young ».
- Fer servadou : gives a pleasant and spicy wine with red fruit aromas.
- Other red grape varieties : Fer, Mérille, Jurançon noir, Syrah, Abouriou.
Dordogne or Bergeracois' appellations
- PDO Bergerac : covers 23722 acres of vines and is available in white, red and rosé. The Côtes-de-Bergerac are produced in red wines and in mellow white wines.
- PDO Montravel : produces a dry white wine, mostly aged in barrels.
- PDO Monbazillac : produces the famous syrupy white wine of Dordogne.
- PDO Pécharmant : produces the red wine situated on the right coast of Dordogne.
- PDO Rosette : produces a sweet white wine.
- PDO Saussignac : occupying nearly 123 acres, produces a mellow or sweet red wine, of very high quality.
Béarn's appellations
- PDO Béarn and Béarn-Bellocq : produces mostly red wines.
- PDO Jurançon : produces only dry, syrupy and sweet white wines.
- PDO Madiran : produces a red wine of good storage, generally based on Tannat.
- PDO Pacherenc-du-vic-bihl : produces dry white wines to be drunk « young » or mellow wines , able to be stored for a long time.
The other main appellations of Sud-Ouest : PDO Cahors (producing a strong and tannic red wine elaborated on the basis of a Cot or Malbec variety), PDO Irouleguy ( situated in Pays Basque, and produces mostly red wines), PDO Buzet, PDO, Gaillac, PDO Marcillac...