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.
From a morphological point of view, Baroque seems to have common origins with Tannat. Still called Blanc Bordelais, this white grape variety is distinguished essentially by the characteristics of its leaves. Those that are still young are both yellowish and downy. Their bumps have a somewhat bronzed appearance. The adult leaves have angular teeth. The leaves are not very three-lobed and have a pubescent, downy blade. The Baroque is grown in the Adour basin, mainly in Tursan and in certain vineyards in the Gers. Its production area is therefore not very large. This grape variety manages to resist oidium, unlike other varieties, and its harvest must be well done and free of rot. The harvest must be well done and free of rot, which leads to a better result and a more successful wine production. Moreover, the development of Baroque must be slowed down in time, bearing in mind that this type of grape variety only matures about twenty days after Chasselas.
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 quick salmon and zucchini lasagna, flambéed prawns or grandma's cherry clafoutis.
On the nose in the region of South West often reveals types of flavors of apples, peach or tree fruit and sometimes also flavors of citrus fruit, honey or earth. In the mouth in the region of South West is a with a nice freshness.
