Tannat Grape variety guide: history, French regions, taste & food pairing
Tannat is the bold, deeply tannic red grape of southwest France, the soul of Madiran and a favorite of anyone who loves powerful, age-worthy wines. It is also Uruguay's national grape.
Learn more about Tannat
History & origins
Tannat originates in the Pyrenean foothills of the French Basque Country and Béarn, and its name likely comes from "tan," the Occitan word linked to tannin. Basque immigrants took it to Uruguay in the 1870s. Its wines are among the richest in polyphenols, and the technique of micro-oxygenation was developed in Madiran in the 1990s to soften its firm tannins.
French regions & appellations
Madiran AOC, Saint-Mont AOC, Irouléguy AOC, Béarn AOC, Tursan AOC and IGP Côtes de Gascogne; also used in some Côtes du Brulhois and Fronton blends.
Taste profile
Full-bodied and inky, with blackberry, black plum, black currant, licorice, cocoa, smoke and spice, framed by high tannins and good acidity. It rewards aging and decanting.
Food pairing
Duck confit, magret, cassoulet, garbure, grilled rib-eye, wild boar, lamb chops and Ossau-Iraty sheep's cheese.
Where Tannat grows in France
Wine regions: Sud-Ouest
Appellations: Cahors, Côtes de Gascogne, Madiran