South-West France: The Wines and Winemakers / Edition 1

by Paul Strang, Jason Shenai

Overview

Between Bordeaux and the Spanish border, reaching east to the Massif Central and the river valleys of the Dordogne and Lot, and south to the foothills of the Pyrenees, lies a unique and little-known viticultural landscape. South-West France is a wine lover's paradise that cultivates an astonishing array of grape varieties, many that grow nowhere else, and produces a fascinating assortment of wines. In this book, Paul Strang covers the South-West with enthusiasm and keen expertise, providing a history of its wine industry, including a near collapse and unlikely rebirth, and introducing readers to a region that seems to defy globalization. The outstanding local wines—made by idiosyncratic growers motivated by a passion for their profession—range from inky Tannats to honeyed late-harvest Semillons. Intrepid readers are invited to rediscover this beautiful part of France, already well known for its cuisine, castles, and cave art, for its earthy and intriguing wines.

Winner of the 2009 GOURMAND World Cookbook Awards "Best Wine Atlas/Tourism Book in the World"

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780520259416
Publisher:	University of California Press
Publication date:	11/17/2009
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	376
Product dimensions:	7.70(w) x 10.30(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Paul Strang is the author of Wines of South-West France, which was named one of 1994's best wine books by Decanter magazine, and Languedoc-Roussillon: The Wines and Winemakers, as well as Take 5000 Eggs: Food from the Markets and Fairs of Southern France.

Table of Contents

Notes on Visiting the Vineyards and Using This Book 8

Introduction 13

A Wine without a Past is a Wine without a Future 17

The Wines of the Hill Country 23

Marcillac 26

Entraygues et Le Fel 38

Estaing 43

Côtes de Millau 46

Vins de pays de I'Aveyron 49

Coteaux de Glanes 50

Vin Paillé de Corrèze 51

The Wines Cahors and the Causses 55

Cahors 56

Coteaux du Quercy 88

Vins de pays du Lot 93

The Wines of Gaillac 95

Gaillac 96

Coteaux de Gaillac 118

Fronton and the Wines of the Toulousain 127

Fronton 128

Vins de pays du Comté Tolosan 144

Coteaux et Terrasses de Montauban 145

Wines of Saint-Sardos 146

Domaine de Ribonnet and the Wines of Ariège 147

The Wines of the Dordogne Valley 149

Bergerac 150

Monbazillac 162

Saussignac 176

Rosette 185

Pécharmant 188

Montravel 198

The Wines of the Middle Garonne 213

Côtes de Duras 214

Côtes du Marmandais 228

Buzet 238

Côtes du Brulhois 246

Vins de pays de I'Agenais 252

The Wines of Gascony 257

Gascony 258

Saint-Mont 266

Tursan and Coteaux de Chalosse 271

Vineyards of the Sandy Shore 278

Floc de Gascogne 280

The Wines of Madiran and Pacherenc 283

Madiran 284

Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh 289

The Wines of Béarn and the Pyrénées 311

Béarn 312

Irouléguy 316

Jurançon 326

Grape Varieties of South-West France 353

Wine and Food Pairings 357

Glossary 361

Bibliography 366

Index 367

Acknowledgments 375

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"An invaluable guide to some of France's most original wines."—Decanter

"The potential for discovery is unequaled anywhere else in France."

—Wine & Spirits Magazine

"It made me want to board the first TGV to see the landscapes, meet the characters, and taste the wines for myself."—The World of Fine Wine

"An invaluable guide to some of France's most original wines."—Decanter

Editorial Reviews

The potential for discovery is unequaled anywhere else in France.

Wine & Spirits Magazine

It made me want to board the first TGV to see the landscapes, meet the characters, and taste the wines for myself.

The World Of Fine Wine

An invaluable guide to some of France’s most original wines.

Decanter