Südwestfrankreich

The Sud-Ouest region comprises the winegrowing regions of South-Western France, with the exception of Bordeaux and Cognac. The areas around Bordeaux, Gascogne and the Basque country are climatically affected by their close proximity to the Atlantic. Some inland regions benefit from drier, hotter summers. Numerous rivers irrigate soils rich in clay, sand and gravel. The foothills of the Pyrenees and the high plains contain a number of rock types. In Haut-Pays mainly the same vine types are cultivated as in Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, although these wines are often less known and more interesting in terms of price. In the South, one of Europe’s most interesting arrays of local vine types is cultivated: here names such as Abouriou, Baroque, Duras and Petit Courbu abound, pressed into exciting wines by adventurous vintners.