Jurançon French wine appellation guide: location, history, wines, climate & soil
Jurançon is a white-wine appellation at the foot of the Pyrenees, famous for luscious, exotic sweet wines and vibrant dry whites made from the local Petit Manseng and Gros Manseng grapes.
More info about Jurançon
Geographic position
Southwestern France, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, on the hills south and west of the city of Pau, in the Béarn region, with views of the Pyrenees mountains, at around 1,000 to 1,300 feet of altitude.
Origin & history
In 1553, the lips of the future King Henri IV of France were rubbed with garlic and moistened with Jurançon wine at his baptism, a tradition that made the wine famous at the French court. Jurançon was one of France's first AOCs, created in 1936; Jurançon Sec for dry wines was recognised in 1975.
Wines & grape varieties
White wine only, from Petit Manseng and Gros Manseng, with Petit Courbu, Courbu and Camaralet. Sweet wines are made from late-harvested grapes shrivelled on the vine (passerillage), with notes of mango, pineapple, honey and spice; dry wines show citrus, exotic fruit and lively acidity.
Climate & soil
Oceanic climate with warm, dry autumn foehn winds. Clay, sandstone and pebbly soils (poudingues) on steep slopes.
Wine region: Sud-Ouest
Grape varieties: Gros Manseng, Petit-Courbu, Petit-Manseng