Top 100 wines of South West - Page 3
Discover the top 100 best wines of South West as well as the best winemakers in the region. Explore the varietals of the wines that are popular of South West and the best vintages to taste in this region.
Discovering the wine region of South West
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.
Discover the grape variety: White muscat
White muscat is a white grape variety of Greek origin. Present in several Mediterranean vineyards, it has several synonyms such as muscat de Die, muscat blanc and frontignac. In France, it occupies a little less than 7,000 ha out of a total of 45,000 ha worldwide. Its young shoots are downy. Its youngest leaves are shiny, bronzed and scabrous. The berries and bunches of this variety are all medium-sized. The flesh of the berries is juicy, sweet and firm. Muscat à petits grains has a second ripening period and buds early in the year. It is moderately vigorous and must be pruned short. It likes poor, stony slopes. This variety is often exposed to spring frosts. It fears mildew, wasps, grape worms, court-noué, grey rot and powdery mildew. Muscat à petits grains is used to make rosé wines and dry white wines. Orange, brown sugar, barley sugar and raisins are the known aromas of these wines.
Food and wine pairing with a wine of South West
wines from the region of South West go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, lamb or game (deer, venison) such as recipes of fast and, fried vegetables with merguez and chipo or rabbit with mushrooms.
Organoleptic analysis of wine of South West
On the nose in the region of South West often reveals types of flavors of cherry, game or cigar box and sometimes also flavors of bramble, bay leaf or black olive. In the mouth in the region of South West is a powerful with a nice balance between acidity and tannins.
News from the vineyard of South West
Hugh Johnson: ‘What can irritate me is change for change’s sake’
‘New’ is the second most popular word in any sales catalogue. (The first is ‘Free’.) We scribblers can’t resist it: it guarantees copy of one sort or another. Even in the slowly evolving world of wine, where the main ethos of the product is historical continuity, ‘new’ sells. To someone like me with a strong sense of history, not to mention conservative tastes, it can be a bit unsettling. It’s not really change that bothers me. There is always room for improvement. What can irritate me is change ...
Top Burgundy wines: 18 to try from Decanter World Wine Awards
The patchwork of Burgundy‘s landscape, varied appellations and associated terroirs is as complex as it is enticing. Home of internationally renowned Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Burgundian wines are often regarded as the global benchmark for these varieties, with Old and New World styles habitually compared and contrasted. Famed for its Premier and Grand Cru wines and centuries of winemaking tradition, Burgundy is known to produce some of the most expensive wines in the world, but its also a ...
Burgundy: MSc course in sustainable wine tourism launches
Prospective students from around the world can apply for the new MSc course in sustainable wine tourism and gastronomy, beginning in the 2022 academic year, said the School of Wine & Spirits Business. Based in Dijon, a short distance from the heart of the Côte d’Or’s famous vineyards, the institution is part of the Burgundy School of Business (BSB). It said the MSc in sustainable wine tourism and gastronomy will be taught in English and reflects ‘strong demand from companies for ...
Top wines in regions and sub-regions of South West
The best wines of South West in other styles
- The best wines natural sweet of South West in other styles
- The best wines pink of South West in other styles
- The best wines red of South West in other styles
- The best wines sparkling of South West in other styles
- The best wines sweet of South West in other styles
- The best wines unknow of South West in other styles
- The best wines white of South West in other styles