The South-West is a large territorial area of France, comprising the administrative regions of Aquitaine, Limousin and Midi-Pyrénées. However, as far as the French wine area is concerned, the South-West region is a little less clear-cut, as it excludes Bordeaux - a wine region so productive that it is de facto an area in its own right. The wines of the South West have a Long and eventful history. The local rivers play a key role, as they were the main trade routes to bring wines from traditional regions such as Cahors, Bergerac, Buzet and Gaillac to their markets.
The last Trading post before the wines left for the lucrative markets of Britain was the wine town and port of Bordeaux. Britain has been a historic trading partner for the region, which was nominally British for a period following the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine to Henry II of Britain. However, Bordeaux businessmen saw the wines in transit as competition for their own local products and took strong measures to ensure their financial security. The result is the French wine map we know today, with Bordeaux being promoted and the other wine regions of the South West struggling to gain recognition for the diversity and Character of their wines.
This history also explains why the Bordeaux Grapes Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc are now three of the best-known grape varieties in the world, while traditional South West grapes such as Fer Servadou, Len de l'El and Tannat are relatively unknown.
Petit Courbu blanc is a grape variety that originated in France (Pyrenees). It produces a variety of grape specially used for wine making. It is rare to find this grape to eat on our tables. This variety of grape is characterized by small bunches and small grapes. Petit Courbu blanc can be found in many vineyards: South West, Languedoc & Roussillon, Cognac, Bordeaux, Provence & Corsica, Rhone Valley, Loire Valley, Savoie & Bugey, Beaujolais, Armagnac.
white wines from the region of South West go well with generally quite well with dishes of rich fish (salmon, tuna etc), shellfish or sweet desserts such as recipes of tomato pie without tomato..., carri of shrimps with chillies or pancakes.
Artémis Domaines, the owner of Château Latour, said that having received ‘several offers’ it had finally entered into ‘exclusive negotiations’ with fellow Bordeaux first growth owner Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite (DBR Lafite). DBR Lafite was chosen because it is a family-owned company and has been a ‘symbol of excellence in French winemaking for over 150 years’, Artémis Domaines said. Saskia de Rothschild, CEO of DBR Lafite, said, ‘We would be truly honoured to write a new chapter in the ...
There was a palpable sense of excitement and suspense resonating throughout the audience at this Decanter Masterclass as Will Harlan, managing director at Domain H. William Harlan, and I prepared to present an extremely rare lineup of Harlan Estate wines, beginning with their fourth produced vintage, 1994, and culminating with the 2018. Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for all seven wines tasted at the Three Decades of Harlan Estate masterclass in New York A special place {"conte ...
The award-winning author shares his observations from half a century of wine discovery in his latest book, Drinking with the Valkyries. Jefford was praised for the ‘peerlessly precise use of the English language’ displayed within his collection of revised essays, opinions and articles. However, he faces fierce competition from a trio of highly-rated drinks writers: Dave Broom, Jennifer Regan-Lefebvre and Camper English. Broom, a former André Simon winner, travels around his native Scotland visit ...
