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Tuesday 21 Jul 2020    The Wine Guide

A Beginner's Guide to French Wines: Le Sud Ouest

Continuing our exploration of France's major wine regions, we're heading to the South West of France to discover the sun-soaked vineyards...

Continuing our exploration of France’s major wine regions, we move from Bordeaux to the region known simple as le Sud-Ouest, the south west, which is a very helpful title when you're looking for it on a map of France! This region is made up of “pockets” of wine-making rather than the concentrated and connected region of Bordeaux, so within this one huge area you will find wines of the Dordogne, Garonne, Gascony and Pays Basque - all of which come under the umbrella of the Sud-Ouest. 

Thanks to the variety of areas, soils and climates that produce wine in this area, there is a similar variety of wines to be found in the sud-ouest region! The sud-ouest region is therefore divided into sub-regions, where you will find distinctive wines according to the differing climates and soils that make up this huge region. 

Something you’ll notice as you go along is the huge importance of rivers in the sud-ouest region, from which many of the wine regions take their names. 

Tarn-et-Garrone

Named after the two rivers that flow through this area, Tarn-et-Garonne has two specific climates - one defined by the Atlantic coast, and another, more Mediterranean climate. The main grapes you will find here are Dordogne, Pinot Noir and Bergerac. 

Bergerac and Dordogne

Another region defined by its two rivers, Bergerac and Dordogne borders its more famous neighbour, Bordeaux. Bergerac wines are protected and have AOC status (reds, whites and rosés) meaning they are made under strict conditions which must be painstakingly observed. 

In the warm climate of this region the most prominent grapes are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc - with the red wines of the region being a blend of these. Reds tend to be fruity, generous, and easy to drink! (Similarly, Bergerac rosés are known for being deliciously drinkable, with a fresh aroma and a soft pink blush.) In terms of what to look out for, try a Côtes-de-Bergerac for an AOC wine that is full bodied, robust and complex with a deep ruby colour - it ages well, and is made to extremely strict harvesting conditions. Another star of the region is Pecharmant, an area which creates some of the best red wines of the region. You’ll also find a lot of highly respected sweet white wines, including Haut-Montravel, Côtes de Montravel and Monbazillac, made from Muscadelle and Sauvignon grapes.

Lot River

The major player of the Lot River area of the sud-ouest is Cahors, a deep, robust red wine which must be at least 70% Auxerrois - a grape perhaps better known as Malbec, for which the region is rightly famous. Merlot is the grape usually blended with Auxerrois to round out the wine. Protected by AOC status, Cahors reds are exotic, powerful and intense, and pair well with red meats. 

Pyrénees

This time named after its mountainous location rather than its river, the Pyrénees sub-region is home to mostly red wines, and has an indigenous grape variety - Tannat - which does well in the rugged, rough terrain between France and Spain. Tannat wines have bold red-fruit notes and stronger tannins - being quite punchy, they pair well with red meats or pungent cheeses! 

Central Paris Location

Last Minute Course Places

12 Oct 2024

  • French Baking Classes / Le Croissant & Breakfast Pastries
  • The 'Roi' of the Parisian breakfast table, Le Croissant ! Enjoy three hours of mastering this decadent, flaky, buttery French icon.

  • La Cuisine Paris, 80 Quai de l'Hôtel de Ville, 75004 Paris     Time: 9:30 - 12:30
  • Price: €119.00     Availability: 1 place left

12 Oct 2024

  • French Baking Classes / French Baguettes and ‘Boulangerie’ Class
  • Three hours of French Bread heaven in the heart of Paris. Learn the tips and tricks to bring the French 'boulangerie' to 'chez vous'!

  • La Cuisine Paris, 80 Quai de l'Hôtel de Ville, 75004 Paris     Time: 14:00 - 17:00
  • Price: €119.00     Availability: 2 places left

14 Oct 2024

  • French Technical Classes / Le Soufflé
  • Le Soufflé

    Au menu:

    a traditional savory Soufflé au Fromage (cheese soufflé)

    plateau of fromage (a selection of fine French cheeses)

    salade with a traditional French vinaigrette

    a delicate and sweet Soufflé au Chocolat (chocolate soufflé)

    After all that hard work (and fun), enjoy lunch with your classmates and a glass of wine while admiring wonderful views across the Seine to Notre Dame.

  • La Cuisine Paris, 80 Quai de l'Hôtel de Ville, 75004 Paris     Time: 10:30 - 13:00
  • Price: €119.00     Availability: 5+ places left

15 Oct 2024

  • French Pastry / The Best of French Pastry
  • The perfect three hour experience for those that love the ‘best of’ classic French Pastries. Enjoy creating the delights you find adorning the windows of your favorite Paris Pastry boutiques.

  • La Cuisine Paris, 80 Quai de l'Hôtel de Ville, 75004 Paris     Time: 10:00 - 13:00
  • Price: €119.00     Availability: 1 place left

The Fundamentals of French Cheese

Tuesday 8 Oct 2024 / The Cheese Guide

For any cheese lover, visiting a French fromagerie (cheese shop) is like walking into a candy store. With so many varieties, shapes, and even colors to choose from, one might not know where to start. So let's dive into the fabulous world of French cheese!

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