France's Most Overlooked Treasure Trove of Wine
Want to know one of our favorite French wine regions? (Okay, well it's at least in the top three.)
South West France!!
(Yes, that's the official title of the region, not just the name of its geographic location.)
What’s the deal with South West France?
There are over 300 grape varieties grown in South West France and about 120 of them are native to the area. The wines are unique and fascinating and also Value City! And who doesn’t love that!? I like to split it up into two parts: The Bordeaux Fringes and Everything Else. Here’s a bit about Everything Else…
Get ready to experiment. (You won’t be disappointed).
Avoid looking for your regular favorites, like Pinot Noir or Merlot or Sauvignon Blanc. Instead, embrace some of those hundreds of lesser known grape varieties like Braucol, Negrette, and Tannat.
Here's a taste of some of the SUPER FUN STUFF that South West France has to offer. t's seriously like one big party. 🎉🎉🎉
Here are some to look for ⬇️
Irouléguy - French Basque region in the foothills of the Pyrenees right at the border of Spain. Limestone and quartz soils give these red blends bright acidity and lots of minerality. Try their deep, savory rosés, too.
Madiran - The biggest and heartiest reds of them all! Based on Tannat—arguably the most tannic grape variety—these wines will stain your tongue and teeth. Drink them with fatty cassoulet (duck, foie gras, sausage, all the meats) and the tannins will cut through that fat to create magic.
Jurançon - Known for its sweet white wines with zippy acid, the dry versions are extra zippy, too. These are porch pounders and drink-with-shellfish wines. A wine labelled "Jurançon" will be sweet. Look for "Juançon sec" for the dry whites.
Marcillac - These are reds made from a grape called Fer Servadou (or Braucol) which is light, iron-y, and some have called "reliably poopy." It's like if Pinot Noir got locked in a barn and didn't shower for a couple years. In a good way.
Fronton - Reds and rosés made from Negrette! For some reason they always remind me of Marvin the Martian. They have been said to taste like a combo between crushed violets and onion peel.
Gaillac - When all else fails, look for Gaillac. Speaking of party time, Gaillac does it all. These are value-centered, fun, cheery, drink-now wines in every style you could imagine. Try them all!
If you don't see these, don't be alarmed (there are so many sub-regions in SW France, the options can go on for days). Ask your bottle shop steward for anything from that region and trust their selection. Try it out and let us know about it!
The two grapes that really steal the show in your Bordeaux reds are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. There’s a big difference in style between the two. So, how do they taste different, and how do you know which one you’re getting (cause it won’t say on the label)?