South-west France cultivates a special lifestyle. Between the vineyards, the mountains and the chateaux, the richness of the heritage is equalled only by the authenticity of its characterful wines. Wines which perfectly match the world-famous local fine foods.
The vineyards of France’s south-west cover 12 districts, from the Massif Central plateau to the hills of Gasconnes and the Pyrenees mountains, particularly in the Occitanie region. Take the south-west wine route through changing landscapes and discover UNESCO World Heritage sites: Toulouse, Cahors, Auch, Albi, and the Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle pilgrims’ trail. Grape harvest festivals and events, visits to the wine cellars, tasting courses and wine and fine-food matching events are just some of the wine tourism activities organized by the local winegrowers and producers. The discovery of the south-west wines goes hand in hand with internationally renowned local fine foods, such as foie gras pâté, truffles and Roquefort cheese.
Thanks to the climatic influence of the oceans, the Mediterranean Sea and the mountains, there are many wine districts in south-west France. A very large number of very old grape varieties are native to the region. The 50,000 hectares of planted vines at higher altitudes and on terraced hillsides produce wines of character: light reds or reds to keep and mature, soft or full-bodied rosés, and dry, mellow or sparkling whites.
1.A rich cultural heritage: 170 museums, 200 festivals, 29 of the ‘Most Beautiful Villages of France’, 33 World Heritage-listed monuments.
2.Harmonies of food and wine: 120 origin-labelled products, 22 Michelin-starred chefs.
3.Major internationally renowned sites: Albi, Rocamadour, the Canal du Midi, Cahors and the Lot Valley, Conques, and the imposing Millau Bridge.
appellations 15 appellations
dominants grape
Red: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot.
White: Sémillon, Sauvignon, Muscadelle.