“Cote de Gascogne” is the name of red, white, rosé, or extra-matured wines coming from a specific area in south west France. Wines have aromatic freshness, and main flavours are typically fruity or flowery for the young wines while once coming from extra-matured raisins flavours are more evolved of mature fruity. Gascogne is that historical area having Garonne river to the north, Landes forest to the west, and Pyrénées to the south. It stays both in Aquitaine than in Midi-Pyrénées regions and the grape production lies on the entire Gers, then on some municipalities in Landes and in Lot-et-Garonne departments. Climate is oceanic tempered with a gradual contrast from the ocean to the continental inland. This character influences soils too indeed they are prevalently sandy to the west and mostly clayey and calcareous to the east. The firsts vineyards date back the Gallo-Roman times; then viticulture developed during all medieval times and important wineries were mentioned in historical documents of the XIV century as part of a florid commerce with England, Countries at North Sea latitudes, then later the Netherland and so production increased well until the XVIII century. During the wars of Revolution and Empire commerce decreased and then Phylloxera made the situation even worst. During the XX century winemakers started to reunite for growth and formed the first syndicate on May 15th, 1979. [14].
Wine description
Winemakers of Cote de Gascogne focus on the most recognizable “primary” aromatic, varietals notes, traditionally identified in the fresh and fruity citrus and exotic flavours. With the modern progresses in winemaking techniques and due to the mild climate, which permits complete grape maturity, these focus on varietal notes is achieved and appreciable.
[14] Winemaking normative requirements, up-to-date. www.inao.gouv.fr www.politicheagricole.it