From the 17th century until the French Revolution (1789–1799), it was part of the combined Province of Guyenne and Gascony. Gascony ( / ˈ ɡ æ s k ə n i/ French: Gascogne Occitan: Gasconha Basque: Gaskoinia) was a province of the southwestern Kingdom of France that succeeded the Duchy of Gascony (602–1453).

Other definitions may encompass a smaller area. JSTOR ( April 2019) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)Ī map of Gascony, showing a wide definition of the region.Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. This illustrious inventory, which has passed the threshold of the third millennium, includes no less than 20 appellations d'origine.This article needs additional citations for verification.

the vineyards of the south-west are home to the widest selection of individual grape varieties, perpetuating the link between ancient wine-making traditions and the characteristic wines and spirits. The regions of Aquitaine and Midi-Pyrénées form a veritable mosaic of widely varying vineyards, grouped together as the ' Vignobles du Sud-Ouest' (vineyards of the south-west).įrom the banks of the Dordogne to the Lot valley, from the Basque country to Gascony and the Agen region, from the south of the Massif Central to the slopes of Tarn, from the land bordering the Garonne to the gates of Toulouse. The oldest spirit in France, Armagnac is obtained from the distillation of white wine in a still, followed by long ageing in oak casks.Īround 300 châteaux are open to the public, with commentaries from the wine growers, enabling visitors to discover the cellars and the vineyards, and, of course, to taste this product of the soil. It is from this land that Armagnac has been produced for more than seven centuries. The walled towns and mediaeval castles in the heart of Gascony, the country of d'Artagnan, are testament to the rich history shared by the areas of Landes, Gers and Lot-et-Garonne. About 100 châteaux are open to the public. Lessons in wine tasting are also available, to enable you to deepen your knowledge. Monbazillac, Côtes de Bergerac, Pécharmant… all the appellations of the Bergerac vineyards illustrate the expertise of more than 1000 wine growers.Ĭome and meet the owners of the vineyards in the Bergerac area for walks among the vines, a visit to the cellars, a taste of the wine. In the Dordogne, in the heart of purple Périgord, take advantage of a cruise in a traditional flat-bottomed barge on the River Dordogne and discover the mediaeval town of Bergerac, birthplace of Cyrano and famous for its wines. Here, right at the edge, people settled through the centuries.Īt Pauillac, they built houses of light-coloured stone to live in at Blaye and Saint-Emilion a citadel and a fort to protect themselves everywhere, from Médoc to Entre-Deux-Mers, châteaux and cellars for wine-making and finally at Bordeaux, an illustrious city where they could trade and surround themselves with culture. Brought along the ocean, it gained the banks and hillsides of the estuary, and then those of the Garonne and Dordogne rivers. Since ancient times, the vine has shaped the landscape of Gironde, according to the nature of its soil: gravel, limestone or clay. In Aquitaine, 85% of the vineyards are located around Bordeaux and produce reputable grands crus, such as Margaux, Yquem, Petrus or Mouton Rothschild.īordeaux is the city that best illustrates the wine traditions, with its wine week the Chateaux and houses are decorated with rich frontages which witnesses to the prosperous period of the wine.

The Aquitaine, as the largest French region of the appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) wines, represents more than 30% of French wine production, with nearly 140,000 hectares of vineyard and a production of around 8 million hectolitres per year. And the hedonist of us can enjoy a stay in a spa amid the vineyards.

The non-conformist can cross the vineyards with a balloon, on foot, on horseback, by bicycle and can stop en route at one of the castles. For the curious the tourist office organize tours of the vineyards and wineries. For art lovers, there are the museums on wine and vines. From Bordeaux to Biarritz, wine is life in the Aquitaine.

Map of dordogne and gascony