Petit-Courbu Grape variety guide: history, French regions, taste & food pairing
Petit Courbu is a rare white grape of Gascony and Béarn, a local treasure that brings richness, honeyed aromas and a round texture to the whites of southwest France.
Learn more about Petit-Courbu
History & origins
Petit Courbu is an old Pyrenean variety, long grown alongside Gros Manseng, Petit Manseng and Arrufiac in the vineyards of the Adour basin. Early-ripening but low-yielding and sensitive to disease, it nearly disappeared in the 20th century. Cooperatives and growers in Saint-Mont and the Vic-Bilh hills helped preserve it, and it is now appreciated for adding body and complexity to blends.
French regions & appellations
Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh AOC (dry and sweet), Saint-Mont AOC, Béarn AOC, Irouléguy AOC and Jurançon (minor), plus IGP Côtes de Gascogne.
Taste profile
Medium to full body with moderate acidity, showing lemon, ripe citrus, pear, honey, acacia, hazelnut and a gently spicy finish; ages well into nutty complexity.
Food pairing
Freshwater fish such as trout, poultry in cream sauce, garbure, foie gras (sweet versions), Bayonne ham and Pyrenean sheep's milk cheese.
Where Petit-Courbu grows in France
Wine regions: Sud-Ouest
Appellations: Jurançon