Between the Bordeaux region and the Pyrénées, the South West is a traditional wine region, probably even oldest than its neighbor. Wines from the South West have often been confused with Bordeaux wines. But one must not conclude that those wines are of a lower quality. Virgil and Horatius have praised wines from South West high and sometimes low!

Nowadays wines from South West are of excellent quality for the value and should be recommended because of their unique personality based on local history and traditions.

Many grape varieties grow only in this region:

• Tannat
• Manseng
• Fer Servadou
• Mérille

We will often find for the reds:

• Cabernet
• Merlot
• Tannat

For the whites:

• Sémillon
• Sauvignon
• Ugni Blanc.

Red wines are full body, Madiran for example, but wines like a red Bergerac are lighter and with a lower percentage of alcohol. White wines are usually dry and aromatic like Jurançon, but they do have some fantastic sweet white wine like Monbazillac.