📍 Pyrenees (Béarn and Basque Country)

The Pyrenean foothills in south-western France are the traditional provinces of Béarn and the Basque Country, today the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department. The area belongs to South-West France. The slopes are open to ocean winds and sheltered by the mountains, so summers are warm and there is plenty of moisture.

There are several small appellations here. Jurançon is white wine from the hills between the towns of Pau and Oloron, made from Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng and Courbu; the vineyards cover almost a thousand hectares. It comes sweet and dry. Irouléguy is the only wine appellation of the French Basque Country, about 250 hectares; the reds are made from Tannat and Cabernet Franc, and there are also rosés and whites. Béarn is a regional appellation since 1975 that covers areas of Jurançon, Madiran and Bellocq: red, rosé and white wines from Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Tannat.

Nearby, in neighbouring Gascony, lies Madiran, with red wines from Tannat (at least 60% in the vineyards). Tannat gives dark, full-bodied, tannic wine.

These wines are little known outside the region, but connoisseurs value them highly.