Discovering the White Wines of the Southwest

Land of red wines above all in the minds of enthusiasts, the  Southwest  region also produces superb white wines that are worth discovering!

This vast wine-growing area of more than 55,000 hectares  indeed harbors numerous appellations, each enjoying its own identity and a unique terroir.

After exploring the red wines of the region in our previous article, we are now embarking on the discovery of regional white wines! Grape varieties, appellations, styles and food and wine pairings, the Southwest will hold no secrets for you after this reading!

White grape varieties and appellations of the Southwest

As mentioned in the introduction, the Southwest is primarily a land of reds. These indeed represent 70% of the regional production, compared to only 20% for white wines and 10% for rosés. Nevertheless, the whites of the region present such diversity that they are worth exploring.

Spanning 12 departments, the wine region of the Southwest boasts 16 AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) and 11 IGP (Indication Géographique Protégée). Between the mountainous landscapes of the Pyrenees, the sandy soils of the Landes or the Lot Valley, the region has a very diverse topography and climate, allowing for the production of wines with varied styles.

Therefore, to explore the region without getting lost, we will first divide it into 4 major sub-regions, discussing for each of them the appellations and grape varieties you will encounter.Have a good ride!

The Bergerac Region

Neighboring the Bordeaux vineyard, the Bergerac region has long suffered from the comparison. This ancient vineyard seems to have found its path today and stands out thanks to the dynamism of the new generations.

Here, the key white grape varieties are Sauvignon, Sémillon, and Muscadelle. Sometimes, a bit of Chenin can also be included in the blends.

Covering 7,000 hectares, the AOC Bergerac and Côtes-de-Bergerac represent 70% of this part of the South-West vineyard.The other appellations producing dry, sweet, or dessert white wines here are  Montravel, Saussignac, Côtes de Duras, Monbazillac, and Rosette.

The Garonne Valley

Primarily centered on the Lot-et-Garonne department, the vineyard of the Garonne Valley produces predominantly red wine. White wines are therefore less represented here and quite similar to those of the Bergerac region. The grape varieties are indeed the same between the two regions.

The appellations producing white wines here are Buzet and Côtes du Marmandais. The overwhelming majority of wines are produced by cooperative cellars.

The Haut Pays

Located in the Southeast of Bergerac and more inland, the Haut Pays vineyard is also almost entirely dedicated to red wine. The famous appellation Cahors as well as Fronton, Saint-Sardos, and even the Coteaux du Quercy do not produce white wine.

The AOC Gaillac is one of the few here to produce dry and sweet whites thanks to the grape varieties Len-de-l'el, Mauzac, Muscadelle, and Sauvignon. Two micro-appellations also produce dry white wines thanks to Chenin and sometimes Mauzac: Entraygues-Le-Fel and Estaing.

The Pyrenean Piedmont

Located at the extreme southwest of the French vineyard, the Pyrenean Piedmont includes the vineyards of Gascogne, Béarn, and Basque Country. While the area is also renowned for its reds, a beautiful diversity of white wines is nevertheless offered, ranging from dry to sweet and semi-sweet.

Many appellations indeed produce white wines: Béarn-Bellocq, Tursan, Irouléguy, and Jurançon are fine examples. Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh is entirely dedicated to white wines, ranging from dry to sweet.

The IGP Gascogne also enjoys a good reputation, while the more discreet IGP Landes and IGP Ariège offer delightful small white wines for pleasure.

The main grape varieties here are the Gros manseng and Petit manseng. Often blended because they complement each other, the former provides body and is quite productive, while the latter offers freshness and finesse.

Several indigenous grape varieties are also used in the region, such as Raffiat de Moncade, Petit Courbu, and Arrufiac. Within the IGPs of the region, many other varieties are also authorized, such as Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Ugni blanc, and Colombard.

 

The styles of white wine from the South-West

Given the great diversity of appellations, grape varieties, and terroirs of the South-West vineyard, it is extremely complex to summarize in a few lines the styles of white wines produced in the region.

Nevertheless, to give you a global overview, we will describe here the main styles of white wines from the most important appellations in the area:

• AOC Bergerac: the white wines of AOC Bergerac are dry (without residual sugars) and offer a delightful richness on the palate.They are generally  fruity and floral and express notes of citrus, peach, or even apricot. A velvety texture is often present during tasting.

• AOC Monbazillac : with 2,320 hectares, Monbazillac is the largest appellation in the world dedicated to sweet wines. Harvested through successive selections, the grapes here produce vintages with a golden hue in their youth, turning amber after a few years of aging. Aromas of roasted fruits, gingerbread, and also honey emerge both on the nose and palate. From 85g/L, the mention Selection of noble grains appears on the bottles.

• AOC Gaillac: this appellation allows for the production of almost all types of wines: red, white, rosé, sparkling, and sweet wines are indeed produced on the 3,150 hectares of the AOC area. The dry whites here mostly evolve on the fruit and offer notes of apple, pear, and white flowers. Sometimes, some are aged in oak barrels, bringing roundness and structure. Finally, the sweet Gaillac wines express notes of candied fruits, quince, pear, and baked apples.

• AOC Jurançon: the 1000 hectares of the appellation exclusively produce white wines, mostly semi-dry or sweet. The vines mostly grow on very steep slopes enjoying a beautiful exposure. The aromatics here are very expressive and evoke exotic fruits, sweet spices, as well as candied fruits for the sweet wines. The sweet wines of the appellation (more than 45g/L) are of good aging potential and develop notes of honey, vanilla, and almond.

• AOC Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh: The 250 hectares of the appellation are entirely dedicated to white wine from dry to sweet.The landscapes here are hilly, and the vineyards benefit from an oceanic climate with continental influence. The sweet and dessert wines represent the majority of the production and express notes of exotic fruits, peach, ripe apricot as well as sweet spices. These are powerful wines with good aging potential. The dry whites, on the other hand, are generally intended to be consumed in their youth. These express notes of citrus, peach, pear, and exotic fruits.

• IGP Côtes de Gascogne: Covering more than 13,000 hectares of vineyards, we had to mention this flagship IGP! White wines represent 85% of the production here and are among the most exported in the world. The dry whites are lively, fruity, and express notes of green apple, citrus, and a lot of freshness. The sweet and other dessert wines are appreciated for their natural expressiveness and great indulgence.

Of course, many other appellations produce white wines in the region.Don't forget  Saussignac, Côtes de Bergerac, Irouléguy, or even certain IGPs like those from Landes or Côtes-du-Tarn!

What to eat with the white wines of the South-West ?

As you may have understood, the nuances of expression of the white wines from the region are vast! Therefore, it is possible to pair the regional cuvées with many dishes.

Thus, the light, fruity, and low-alcohol dry whites from Côtes de Gascogne will pair perfectly as an aperitif with seafood (especially oysters), but also with seasonal salads or goat cheeses like Ossau-Iraty.

For dry whites with more indulgence and roundness, such as those from the Bergerac, Irouléguy, or Pacherenc de Vic-Bilh appellations, pairings with fish in sauce (salmon, cod), scallops, or even poultry can be imagined without any problem.

With the soft and sweet wines  from the region, foie gras is an absolute must, just like Roquefort or other blue-veined cheeses. Finally, for dessert, an apple tart or a delicious Périgord walnut cake will pair perfectly with the aromas and indulgence of these wines.

What serving temperatures for South-West whites ?

First of all, the dry and lively whites from the region are ideally enjoyed between 8-10°C. The idea here is indeed to highlight the freshness and tension so pleasing in these cuvées.

For dry white wines but offering more body and roundness on the palate, a serving temperature between 11-13°C allows for better respect of the more complex aromatics of these bottles.

Finally, for the soft and sweet regional wines, 8-10°C is also the perfect temperature so that the sugar present in these delicious bottles is not perceived as too heavy by our palates during tasting.

You are now a connoisseur of the white wines of the Southwest! And as you have seen through this reading, the region offers a great diversity of styles thanks, among other things, to its indigenous terroirs and grape varieties.

From lively and fresh white wines to powerful sweet wines, the region's cuvées can indeed be enjoyed both as an aperitif and to satisfy your cravings from starter to dessert.